The Hoboken Democratic Party announces: =&0=& =&1=& =&2=& =&3=& =&4=& The Hoboken Democratic Party is surprised to learn that an unregistered PAC, known as the “Real Democrats of Hoboken”, has scheduled a fundraiser on Monday February 28th at 7:00 p.m. at the Clinton Social, honoring the previous Chair of the Hoboken Democratic Party, Assemblyman Ruben Ramos.  This event, which is being actively promoted by Maurice Fitzgibbons, another prior Chair of the Hoboken Democratic Party and a former Freeholder, is intended to raise money from developers to support candidates running against the incumbent committeemen and committeewomen who presently serve the Hoboken Democratic Party. “It is surprising and disappointing that Maurice Fitzgibbons, who was recently found by ELEC to have violated ELEC’s campaign finance disclosure requirements, resulting in a fine of several thousand dollars against Mr. Fitzgibbons, is at it again.  Hoboken has seen what happens when its politicians fail to abide by the letter of the law when it comes to campaign fundraising,”  said Gary Holtzman, Treasurer of the Hoboken Democratic Party.

Photo of the original illegal fundraiser by a group not registered to do so.  The Old Guard is back to its old tricks.

It is against New Jersey state law for an unregistered PAC, like the “Real Democrats for Hoboken” to spend money or raise money in support of candidates for political campaigns, such as the event that the “Real Democrats for Hoboken” is advertising for Monday February 28th. Vice Chair of the Hoboken Democratic Party, and Chair of the By-Laws Subcommittee, Phil Cohen, added, “We are proud of the changes that the Hoboken Democratic Party have made, instituting by-laws that prohibit the funneling of funds through the Hoboken Democratic Party to support candidates for non-partisan elections, like Hoboken City Council races or Hoboken Mayoral Races.  Back when Mayor Russo and Mayor Roberts controlled the Hoboken Democratic Party, developers funneled hundreds of thousands of dollars through the Hoboken Democratic Party to support their Mayoral campaigns.  We don’t ever want to return to those bad old days.” Today, the Hoboken Democratic Party’s reformed by-laws are used as a model for other Democratic Party Organizations throughout the State of New Jersey and promoted by good government organizations. =&5=& Freeholder Anthony “Stick” Romano noted the Lincoln Dinner was originally a prestigious, non-partisan event, “If I’m well enough I’ll present Ruben with an award.  That’s it,”  He added he had been under the weather and just learned about the event the other day. Maurice Fitzgibbons may be facing questions on his role surrounding the problems in arranging such an event without following the required ELEC procedures.  Then again, he’s had these kind of problems before and he was the person who brought you Tim Occhipinti. Some habits die hard.