Middletown Republican Executive Committee

Middletown Republicans Request Investigation Into Financing of Short Campaign Committee

Short Fails To Report More Than $10,000 In Contributions
and Is Hiding Thousands of Dollars of Expenditures

(Middletown) -- Middletown Republican Chairman Peter J. Carton has formally requested an investigation into more than $10,000 in contributions that Democrat Township Committee Candidate Patrick Short has failed to report with the New Jersey Election Law Enforcement Commission (“ELEC�). A copy of the request for an investigation filed with ELEC today is attached.

“The Middletown Democrat Executive Committee has directly contributed at least $10,175 for Patrick Short’s campaign between May 3, 2006 and June 16, 2006 and Patrick Short has not reported a single cent of such contributions,� said Carton. “Despite signing a sworn statement filed with State officials that he was not going to spend more than $3,500, Mr. Short has seen fit to conceal special interest contributions being filtered through the Middletown Democrat Executive Committee.�

“Mr. Short is not only concealing contributions he has received, but his refusal to file the proper paperwork with the State is also obviously intended to prevent disclosure of funds expended by his campaign for newspaper advertisements and yard signs that have already been displayed in violation of local ordinances,� concluded Carton. “Mr. Short should refund these contributions immediately and disclose any other contributions received or expenditures made by his campaign that have been hidden from public disclosure in violation of law.�

If ELEC fails to investigate these violations within a reasonable time before this fall’s election, the Middletown Republican Executive Committee will seek a court order enjoining Mr. Short from spending the $10,000+ his candidate’s committee has received until such contributions and expenditures are properly disclosed pursuant to law.

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SPECIFIC ALLEGATIONS CONSTITUTING A
REQUEST FOR INVESTIGATION OF PATRICK SHORT,
DEMOCRAT FOR MIDDLETOWN TOWNSHIP COMMITTEE

Pursuant to the New Jersey Campaign Contributions and Expenditures Reporting Act, N.J.S.A. 19:44A-1 et seq. and ELEC Regulations, the Middletown Republican Executive Committee sets forth the following facts and alleges the following violations, requesting an immediate investigation regarding the same. Should this matter not be addressed immediately, the Middletown Republican Executive Committee will be compelled to file an Order To Show Cause for injunctive relief before the Superior Court pursuant to N.J.S.A. 19:44A-22.1 so as not to prejudice the integrity of this fall’s general election for Township Committee in Middletown Township, Monmouth County.

(1) On March 15, 2006, Mr. Patrick Short of 6 Carriage Drive, Middletown, NJ 07748, was officially selected as the Middletown Democratic Party’s nominee for Township Committee by the Middletown Democratic Executive Committee. See Exhibit A attached hereto.

(2) At no time relevant hereto, has the Mr. Short and/or anyone on his behalf, filed any reports with ELEC for the 2006 Primary Election cycle during which he actively campaigned for the Middletown Township Committee, including the placing of ads promoting his candidacy in a local weekly newspaper, The Courier, and on its website. See second page of Exhibit A attached hereto.

(3) On May 3, 2006, the Middletown Democratic Executive Committee contributed $100 to the “Short for Township Committee� even though no such committee or depository had yet to be established via any filing with ELEC. See FORM R-1, Schedule D for the Middletown Democratic Executive Committee filed July 19, 2006.

(4) On May 10, 2006, “Short for Township Committee� filed a FORM A-1 - SWORN STATEMENT, indicating that it was being filed for the General Election and citing the date of the General Election, attesting that the total amount expended for his campaign would not exceed $3,500 and that “if I receive any contribution in excess of $300 in the aggregate from one source in an election or a currency (cash) contribution in any amount, I am required to report the contribution to the Commission. . . .� (emphasis added). See FORM A-1 filed by Short for Township Committee on May 10, 2006.

(5) On May 15, 2006, “Short for Township Committee� filed a FORM D-1 - CERTIFICATE OF ORGANIZATION, designating the creation of the committee, its treasurer and depository information, again for the General Election cycle. See FORM D-1 filed by Short for Township Committee on May 15, 2006.

(6) On June 6, 2006, the Middletown Democratic Executive Committee paid $75.00 via Check No. 747 to The Courier newspaper for advertising for Patrick Short for Township Committee and no in-kind contributions have been reported by Short for Township Committee, which in the aggregate with following contributions constitute reportable activity. See FORM R-1, Schedule C for the Middletown Democratic Executive Committee filed July 19, 2006.

(7) On June 16, 2006, the Middletown Democratic Executive Committee contributed $10,000 to Patrick Short for Township Committee, which is still within 17 days of the 2006 Primary Election for which no reports have been filed, or if intended to be attributed for the 2006 General Election cycle, have not been reported by Patrick Short for Township Committee in any supplementary contribution reports as of August 9, 2006. See FORM R-1, Schedule D for the Middletown Democratic Executive Committee filed July 19, 2006.