Formal Ethics Complaint Filed Vs Gov. In Katz-Cash-Connection

Bogota Mayor Steve Lonegan faxed a letter to the State Ethics Commission yesterday afternoon. The first paragraph reads, "Please consider this a formal request for an investigation into the conduct of Governor Jon Corzine; as it relates to contract negotiations with the Communications Workers of America. Pursuant to New Jersey Conflicts of Interest Law 52:13D-12: it is my understanding the State Ethics Commission is authorized to investigate complaints relating to the potential violation of ethical standards by the Governor."

Corzine recently acknowledged he gave gifts to Carla Katz, president of CWA Local 1034. Corzine says the gifts were given while he was running for governor in 2005 beyond what had been previously disclosed. Katz, who makes $102,000 a year as the leader of the largest state worker union, recently paid $1.1 million in cash for a luxury condo in the same Hoboken building where Corzine lives. Katz will not say where she got the money to buy the condo three months ago. Katz has contracted a $500,000 renovation at her Hunterdon County home. Corzine refuses to answer questions about whether he paid any or all of the bill in either case.

Corzine previously acknowledged that in 2005, Katz was given $470,000 by Corzine to pay off the mortgage on the Hunterdon County home and concedes he also paid the $160,000 gift tax.

Asked Wednesday if he would cooperate with a State Ethics Commission probe, Corzine said, "I certainly wouldn't resist." He added, "This is something that occurred in 2004. I was elected Governor in 2005. I think that speaks for itself."

Lonegan interprets things differently. "When the Governor ran for office," says Lonegan, "he said he wanted to return ethics to Trenton. He has a golden opportunity now to be a leader, to step up to the plate, to come clean." Last year Lonegan, a conservative Republican who ran unsuccessfully in the last GOP gubernatorial primary, filed 34 ethics complaints against state legislators asking the Joint Legislative Committee on Ethical Standards to probe whether they llegally steered budget money to their home districts. Some of the complaints remain active. Lonegan says Corzine could have fully disclosed everything without a formal complaint but, "Now he has to be dragged before the ethics committee and I think the State of New Jersey has a big problem."

Lonegan wonders why he had to be the one to file the complaint. He asks, "Where are the Republicans? Where is the loyal opposition? Where is the leadership in Trenton?" Lonegan adds, "We have a big problem in Trenton; we have one party, a party of big spenders."

For weeks the Governor has refused to answer questions about what else he may have given Katz saying, "Personal is personal….when people have personal relationships, make personal promises and commitments, I think that's a private matter."

"Everyone is concerned about what happened here," says Lonegan, "but, most of all, leadership starts at the top and if we're going to do something about high taxes in this state and we're going to get spending under control it has to start at the Governor's office."

Another portion of Lonegan's complaint reads, "It has been reported that Governor Corzine has engaged in substantial gift giving with Mrs. Karla Katz who has served as negotiator for the Communications Workers of America. The taxpayers of New Jersey and the members of CWA deserve to be confident that these negotiations are conducted in a forthright and fair manner. There exists an overwhelming perception that these negotiations may have been compromised by Governor Corzine's personal relationship with Mrs. Karla Katz I leave that determination to the State Ethics commission."

On Monday we told you the State Ethics Commission can investigate any matter its members see fit to probe. The body needs neither permission from the Governor nor a formal complaint. Last week, State Senator Bill Schluter who is a member of the State Ethics Commission said, "I would not pass judgment or give any kind of an opinion on this issue that has been spoken about publicly (and) if something came before the Commission I would neither confirm nor deny knowledge of it or what our position is because it would compromise my position."

Schluter said, without hesitation, he'd help the Commission investigate anything his staff presented even if it involves the Governor and his former girlfriend, "It doesn't bother me and I know it wouldn't bother the Governor. Nobody is above the law and nobody is immune from any kind of ethics review……the Governor says he's made a commitment to ethical reform and I believe him."

http://www.nj1015.com/absolutenm/templates/?a=6171&z=1
Ethics Complaint Against Corzine Refiled
Tuesday, March 27, 2007 - Millennium Radio New Jersey

An official ethics complaint has now been re-filed against Governor Jon Corzine. After being told the State Ethics Commission doesn't have the power to probe possible conflicts of interest regarding Governor Jon Corzine and his ex-girlfriend and union president Carla Katz, Bogota Mayor Steve Lonegan has filed the complaint with Corzine's Ethics Advisory Panel, a two-man group appointed by the governor and created under an executive order that set up a code of conduct for Governors.

"I had a very difficult time doing this," says Lonegan, "this advisory panel has no address, no location, no e-mail, no phone number….it's a phantom organization. It's very difficult to find." He adds, "I think all of these ethics committees are a fraud. They're all just designed to run interference for government and give people the perception that government's trying to be ethical."

The two-member advisory panel consists of former Supreme Court Justice Daniel J. O'Hern and former State Attorney General John Farmer Jr. Lonegan says, "I can't judge these two gentlemen. Hopefully they'll step up to the plate and really do their jobs that people think they will do, but that's hard to believe when they've been appointed by the Governor himself." Neither Farmer nor O'Hern could be reached for comment.

A Corzine spokesman issued the following statement, "Senator Corzine's personal relationship with Ms. Katz began and ended before he was governor. And it is clear that anyone's actions prior to becoming governor are not relevant to the Code."

Last Friday, Lonegan faxed a letter to the State Ethics Commission. The first paragraph reads, "Please consider this a formal request for an investigation into the conduct of Governor Jon Corzine; as it relates to contract negotiations with the Communications Workers of America. Pursuant to New Jersey Conflicts of Interest Law 52:13D-12: it is my understanding the State Ethics Commission is authorized to investigate complaints relating to the potential violation of ethical standards by the Governor."

Corzine recently acknowledged he gave gifts to Carla Katz, president of CWA Local 1034. Corzine says the gifts were given while he was running for governor in 2005 beyond what had been previously disclosed. Katz, who makes $102,000 a year as the leader of the largest state worker union, recently paid $1.1 million in cash for a luxury condo in the same Hoboken building where Corzine lives. Katz will not say where she got the money to buy the condo three months ago. Katz has contracted a $500,000 renovation at her Hunterdon County home. Corzine refuses to answer questions about whether he paid any or all of the bill in either case.

Corzine previously acknowledged that in 2005, Katz was given $470,000 by Corzine to pay off the mortgage on the Hunterdon County home and concedes he also paid the $160,000 gift tax.

Asked last Wednesday if he would cooperate with a State Ethics Commission probe, Corzine said, "I certainly wouldn't resist." He added, "This is something that occurred in 2004. I was elected Governor in 2005. I think that speaks for itself."

Lonegan interprets things differently. "When the Governor ran for office," says Lonegan, "he said he wanted to return ethics to Trenton. He has a golden opportunity now to be a leader, to step up to the plate, to come clean." Last year Lonegan, a conservative Republican who ran unsuccessfully in the last GOP gubernatorial primary, filed 34 ethics complaints against state legislators asking the Joint Legislative Committee on Ethical Standards to probe whether they llegally steered budget money to their home districts. Some of the complaints remain active. Lonegan says Corzine could have fully disclosed everything without a formal complaint.

Lonegan wonders why he had to be the one to file the complaint. He asks, "Where are the Republicans? Where is the loyal opposition? Where is the leadership in Trenton?" Lonegan adds, "We have a big problem in Trenton; we have one party, a party of big spenders."

For weeks the Governor has refused to answer questions about what else he may have given Katz saying, "Personal is personal….when people have personal relationships, make personal promises and commitments, I think that's a private matter."

"Everyone is concerned about what happened here," says Lonegan, "but, most of all, leadership starts at the top and if we're going to do something about high taxes in this state and we're going to get spending under control it has to start at the Governor's office."

Another portion of Lonegan's complaint reads, "It has been reported that Governor Corzine has engaged in substantial gift giving with Mrs. Karla Katz who has served as negotiator for the Communications Workers of America. The taxpayers of New Jersey and the members of CWA deserve to be confident that these negotiations are conducted in a forthright and fair manner. There exists an overwhelming perception that these negotiations may have been compromised by Governor Corzine's personal relationship with Mrs. Karla Katz I leave that determination to the State Ethics commission."

A week ago a member State Ethics Commission confirmed the body can investigate any matter its members see fit to probe. The panel's executive director then said it did not have such power when it comes to the Governor. Two weeks ago, State Senator Bill Schluter who is a member of the State Ethics Commission said, "I would not pass judgment or give any kind of an opinion on this issue that has been spoken about publicly (and) if something came before the Commission I would neither confirm nor deny knowledge of it or what our position is because it would compromise my position."

Schluter said, without hesitation, he'd help the Commission investigate anything his staff presented even if it involves the Governor and his former girlfriend, "It doesn't bother me and I know it wouldn't bother the Governor. Nobody is above the law and nobody is immune from any kind of ethics review……the Governor says he's made a commitment to ethical reform and I believe him."

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