Has HobokenDads Become a PAC?

Events where the sponsors promote political candidates are in-kind campaign contributions

HobokenDads, a terrific non-partisan group of community-minded fathers  appears to have been shanghaied by founder Brian Murray for the political campaign of a slate of School Board candidates.   Murray charges a  $25 annual membership fee to join HobokenDads, money which presumably goes toward the expenses of activities and events hosted by and for members, their families and the community-at-large.

But what if Murray is using his non-partisan group to host campaign events for Move Forward (MF), candidates in the upcoming school board race?   As the sponsor for events which endorse and promote candidates,  doesn't Murray's group become a  campaign contributor subject to NJ Campaign Finance and Lobbying Regulations?

On September 22, Murray's group, HobokenDads, sponsored Kiddiepalooza 2012 , a children's event in the park.  Presumably,  membership fees cover- at least part- of the cost of Kiddiepalooza.  

Here are disturbing questions raised by a parent who took her child to  Kiddiepalooza, and discovered it swarming with politicos, campaign literature and the FOUNDER of HobokenDads manning a table covered with campaign literature.

So I went to the Kiddiepalozza that was organized by the Hoboken Dads Group at Church Sq Park today...

It was pretty sparsely attended throughout the day... though you had the usual suspects.  Perry Belfiore standing by with an armful of Literature for the Oland/Markevitz/Vazquez ticket, Vazquez and Ines Garcia Keim handing out campaign lit.

Oland, Raia and Michael Holmes and Anthony Romano and Ruben Ramos in attendance along with Benny Love blowing up the bouncy houses..don't forget Carmelo Garcia he was there too.

But was it a HOBOKEN DADS KIDS EVENT? or was it a CAMPAIGN EVENT FOR OLAND/MARKEVITZ/VAZQUEZ SPONSORED BY THE HOBOKEN DADS GROUP?

BRIAN MURRAY THE PRESIDENT OF THE HOBOKEN DADS GROUP MANNED A TABLE THAT HELD ONLY CAMPAIGN LITERATURE FOR OLAND/MARKEVITZ/VAZQUEZ.

Campaign literature at Kiddiepalooza- at the Hobokendads table

Look, GA is the first to tell you it is every citizen's right to advocate for the people he/she wishes to govern, and against those he/she wants OUT.   

Like I do here.

But when the leader of a non-partisan PARENT'S group hijacks it for political endorsements while collecting MONEY from it's members, well... that's not kosher.

How does this square with NJ Campaign Financing and Lobbying Regulations? 

While HobokenDads may not be collecting donations, the value of their membership-paid events which "aid or promote the candidacies of individuals for elective office" may require that organization to formalize it's status as a PAC, or Continuing Political Committee, as it's called in NJ. 

GA thinks Murray ought to notify his members that on their behalf he is engaging in political endorsements  and participating in campaign events.  And of course, coordinating with Move Forward Campaign manager John Castellano who is also the Treasurer of Russo for Hoboken (who has yet to explain where that $18K went)

By virtue of the campaign endorsement at Kiddipalooza, Move Forward is required to note it as an in-kind campaign contribution on their ELECs. 
  

Politics with your 'free' bouncy house- from the event SPONSOR

Kinda slick, no? 

 A parent brings their kid to the Kiddiepalooza 'free' bouncy house, enjoys some 'free' music, and the event sponsor is seated at a table covered with "Move Forward" campaign literature... whatever happened to truth-in-advertising?    

Like those 'free' weekends in the Poconos where you end up being sold a Time Share...your 'free'  bouncy house comes with a pitch for a BoE slate.
 

Continuing Political Committee (CPC) – includes any group of two or more persons acting jointly, or any corporation, partnership, or any other incorporated or unincorporated association, including a political club, political action committee, civic association or other organization, which in any calendar year contributes or expects to contribute at least $4,300 to aid or promote the candidacy of an individual, or the candidacies of individuals, for elective public office, or the passage or defeat of a public question or public questions, and which may be expected to make contributions toward such aid or promotion or passage or defeat during a subsequent election, provided that the group, corporation, partnership, association or other organization has been determined by the commission to be a continuing political committee in accordance with N.J.S.A. 19:44A-8(b). Frequently referred to as political action committee (PAC) or special interest group.