ELEC commissioner seats are vacant after resignations, governor’s office says

Update: the Election Law Enforcement Commission has canceled their meeting for tomorrow.

A spokesperson for Gov. Phil Murphy says that they view three seats on the New Jersey Election Law Enforcement Commission to be vacant after the commissioners resigned on March 20.

Two of the commissioners, Stephen Holden and Marguerite Simon, called a meeting of the state’s campaign finance watchdog panel for tomorrow, even though they resigned on March 30.

Holden told the New Jersey Globe on Friday that his resignation had not been accepted.

But later that day, Murphy’s chief counsel, Parimal Garg, sent an email to Holden: “Please note that your resignation has been accepted and filed with the Secretary of State.”

The governor’s office said there is no legal requirement that resignations be accepted.

Holden, Simon, and a third commissioner, Eric Jaso,  resigned in protest of the legislature’s passage of a controversial bill that raised campaign contribution limits, increased reporting requirements, and established a two-year statute of limitations on campaign finance violations.

Murphy signed the controversial bill into law on April 3.

With four vacant seats – the second Republican seat has been empty for more than six years – Murphy now has until July 2 to appoint the new ELEC commissioners with a one-time exemption for Senate confirmation.

Jeff Brindle, the executive director of the commission, has a target on his back after refusing the Murphy administration’s request that he resign.  He has filed a lawsuit challenging the constitutionality of the new legislation.