In yet another twist to the week long examination of Councilwoman Mason’s ELEC report from her mayoral campaign last spring, the reporter from Hoboken.patch.com, Andrew Tavani – filed an update with a hollow speculative excuse from a Mason spokesman:


“Patch‘s review of the checks confirmed that all 48 checks in question were in fact issued to individuals, the names and addresses of which can be found in the Itemized List. When asked why the checks were cashed and then cash was disbursed to more than one individual, Mason responded that she didn’t exactly know why that had occurred, noting that as the candidate she relied on others to carry out those types of tasks. But a spokesman speculated that it may have been the result of the way campaign workers interpreted the section on “street money” found on page 28 of ELEC’s Candidate Compliance Manual (PDF). The spokesman, who did not work on the campaign, said the language of the laws governing street money use and the guideline contained in the manual read slightly differently and a layman may have interpreted it to mean that doing so was kosher. They both pointed to the fact that every individual who received money is accounted for by name and address on the Itemized List.”


Just yesterday, MSV questioned the premise issued by a previous Beth Mason spokesperson who stated checks were issued to “families.”  An examination of that claim proved untenable, not lasting a day.  Yesterday’s story highlighted those problems in detail. 


The anonymous spokesman here is not even taking a firm position on the shaky ground moving fast under foot for street money being handed out in its most blatant illegal form: cash – blaming unnamed “campaign workers” for the greenbacks being doled out to numerous people who are not itemized by name on a check.  NJ ELEC has already issued a statement indicating these are in fact violations, something Councilwoman Mason’s spokespeople have yet to acknowledge.  In place of that reality staring the 2nd ward councilwoman in the face, she has spokesmen trotting out daily excuses and by day’s end the new story is a heap of rubble replaced with yet a new explanation.


Any examination of the language from page 28 of ELEC’s compliance manual puts further in question Councilwoman Mason’s inability to accept responsibility where she signs on the dotted line.  Look at this language yourself; it’s neither long nor easily misunderstood by any lay person:

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