ELEC says goodbye to Brindle, begins search for replacement

The New Jersey Election Law Enforcement Commission today formally accepted Jeff Brindle’s retirement as executive director and is meeting privately to discuss their search for his replacement.

Brindle notified commissioners of his plans four weeks ago after heading the campaign finance watchdog agency since 2009.  His decision came more than five months after Gov. Phil Murphy had sought to oust Brindle from his post over an email sent to a staffer last fall that mocked National Coming Out Day.

“He should be recognized for many years of dedicated public service, his continual efforts to advance the interests of monitoring campaign finance and reporting and the mission of elect were at Jeff Brindle’s heart for quite some time,” said Commissioner Jon-Henry Barr.  “it’s important to take stock of that, to recognize it and to thank him for his many years of dedicated public service.”

Brindle was a candidate for the New Jersey State Assembly in an unwinnable race in 1977 and briefly mounted a run for Congress in 1978 against eight-term Rep. Edward J. Patten (D-Perth Amboy).   He joined state government in 1982 as a spokesman for the Department of Community Affairs and became ELEC’s deputy director in 1986.  Following the retirement of Dr. Frederick Herrmann in 2009, he became executive director.

In brief remarks, Brindle praised the agency’s staff.

“It’s been many, many years that I’ve been with the commission, and for whatever success we’ve had, it’s really been because of the staff.,” Brindle said.  “We have had a wonderful staff through the years, and I’m very appreciative of that and very appreciative of having had the opportunity to serve as executive director.”

Brindle is expected to leave on November 30.

ELEC is also searching for a new legal director to replace Demery J. Roberts.

Following the passage of the Election Transparency Act that reconstituted the state’s campaign finance watchdog panel: former New Jersey Bar Association President Thomas Prol, former Assemblyman Ryan Peters (R-Hainesport), longtime Clark Municipal Prosecutor Jon-Henry Barr, and former Senior Deputy Attorney General Norma Evans.