newjerseynewsroom.com

Bipartisan legislation designed to make county political parties more transparent was unanimously approved Monday by the Assembly Judiciary Committee.

The measure, A-1904, would require county political party committees to adopt and distribute a constitution and bylaws that would ensure the so-called representative rights of county committee members in the governance of the party.

"This is a crucial step toward more accountability and transparency at every government level," said Assemblywoman Linda R.Greenstein (D-Middlesex), a prime sponsor. "It's long overdue and would be a welcome addition to making government more open and accountable to the people."

"We're simply doing what should have done long ago - shining more light upon what can often by a key government process seldom seen by the public," said Assemblyman Gordon Johnson (D-Bergen), another prime sponsor. "This is a positive step in the right direction for all New Jerseyans."

The bill would require: Municipal clerks to certify to the county clerk an official list of county party committee members within 20 days of the first county committee meeting after a primary election. It would be the continuing duty of the county committee chairperson to report changes in the committee membership, with appropriate documentation, to the county clerk. An official list of the county committee members would be maintained by the county clerk as a government record that would be accessible to the public.

That measure would also require that county committee members listed seven days before a vote on a vacancy are entitled to vote on filling the vacancy. Every person appointed to the county committee would be required to file a certificate of acceptance with the county clerk. All contested votes would have to be held by secret ballot to prevent tampering.

The proposal moves to the Assembly floor for consideration.

— TOM HESTER SR., NEWJERSEYNEWSROOM.COM