A Democratic lawmaker from Camden County is alleging that State Sen. Vincent Polistina (R-Egg Harbor Township) pushed for state funding to benefit his hometown, where he has engineering contracts, and has asked federal and state prosecutors to launch a probe.
Assemblywoman Pamela Lampitt (D-Cherry Hill) says Polistina violated state conflict of interest laws by sponsoring a $250,000 appropriation for Egg Habor Township, where he works for the planning board, zoning board, and municipal utilities authority.
“There can be little doubt that Mr. Polistina, given the multiple paid positions he holds in Egg Harbor Township, has a personal interest in sponsoring and voting for legislative appropriations for Egg Harbor Township,” said Lampitt. “It was not until after his failure to disclose his conflict of interest as required by the Senate Rules, did Mr. Polistina’s actions come to light.”
She said the Senate rule requiring disclosure of budget resolution with potential conflicts was enacted after two former legislators, Wayne Bryant and John Lynch, were convicted on federal corruption charges.
Egg Harbor Township is the largest municipality in the 2nd legislative district.
Lampitt’s letter to New Jersey Attorney General Matt Platkin and U.S. Attorney Philip Sellinger comes seven weeks after Polistina was re-elected to a second full term by seven percentage points against Democrat Caren Fitzpatrick, a county commissioner who ran with heavy financial support from the South Jersey Democratic machine.
Polistina said the letter was the handiwork of South Jersey Democratic powerbroker George Norcross.
“George Norcross is a bully and a thug with a history of threatening anyone who isn’t afraid to call him out,” Polistina told the New Jersey Globe. “I consider it a badge of honor to be his latest target of lies and slander.
Polistina said that Norcross “spent millions trying to rig an election against me and my running mates, and we blew his doors off. “
Lampitt also claims that the Atlantic County senator convinced one of his opponents, Libertarian Shawn Peck, to drop out of the race and endorse him after a tenebrous independent expenditure group, Jersey Freedom, spent money on a mailer to Republicans urging them to back Peck and not Polistina.
“In all circumstances that could be contemplated, the discovery that one’s campaign is being given a sudden and unexpected boost of support would be the best day of that candidate’s campaign,” Lampitt stated. “There can be no doubt Mr. Polistina induced Mr. Peck to drop out of the race, which is in violation of state election law and should be investigated.
But Lampitt’s allegation comes with no evidence, and Jersey Freedom turned out to be funded by the South Jersey Democrats. The shadowy group also funded direct mail and TV ads promoting a phantom State Senate candidate in the 4th district, Giuseppe Costanzo, and spent money attacking Rep. Jeff Van Drew (R-Dennis) on his opposition to offshore wind projects.
“He was angry then, and now he’s even more angry because I am asking questions and demanding answers about his fake candidate scam in South Jersey,” Polistina said about Norcross.
Lampitt also alleges that Polistina is improperly using a non-disclosure agreement to hide a confidential settlement with a now-deceased Atlantic City Country Club employee.
“It is understood that a confidential investigation was conducted resulting in Mr. Polistina’s resignation from the club,” she said, accusing the Republican senator of using a “now unenforceable non-disclosure agreement.
Polistina dismissed Lampitt as a tool of the Democratic machine.
“If anyone believes she wrote this letter, George has some Camden waterfront tax credits to sell you,” he said.