Better 438 Days Late than Never (Fisher ELEC)

438 days and a complaint filed with the New Jersey Election Law Enforcement Commission is all it took for Hoboken's 2nd Ward Councilwoman Tiffanie Fisher to file her delinquent campaign finance report. Her 20-day post election report was due on November 25, 2019; NJ-ELEC date-stamped it "received "on February 4, 2021.

Y'know, pandemic and all, most folks aren't checking the ELEC database for late filings. However, with Fisher's sponsorship of an ordinance amending Hoboken's "Pay-to-Play" law, she put her own compliance with existing local and state campaign finance law up to scrutiny.

And it was, and she failed.

Not out of ignorance, either. I don't know why. In addition to the delinquent 20-day Post Election report, Fisher was required to file quarterly reports: April, July, October and January of every year, until the account closes. As of January 15, 2021 Fisher missed 10 ELEC filings.

But better late than never.

I personally credit 5th Ward Councilman Phil Cohen for compelling his council colleague to follow New Jersey State law.

Cohen didn't play "GOTCHA!" either. He showed good faith by notifying her on January 6th at Hoboken's City Council meeting that she hadn't filed her legally-mandated reports since October 2019. Well, twenty days later, Fisher's delinquent report had still not shown up on the ELEC database. Hence, Cohen was compelled to file a complaint with the State of New Jersey's Election Law Enforcement Commission. He provided the text of his complaint to the public:

TEXT OF COMPLAINT AGAINT "TIFFANIE FISHER FOR HOBOKEN 2ND WARD"

After the complaint was filed, and reported in Hudson County View, Fisher claimed:

“I don’t know why my originally submitted forms were not posted by ELEC but I’m in process of rectifying this. And I’m glad he supports the important pay-to-play legislation I am co-sponsoring with Council Vice President Giattino that up for final vote at next week’s council meeting.”

That's possible. But I'm curious why she didn't follow up with ELEC before January 27, 2021. Wouldn't you have?

"BETTER 438 DAYS LATE-THAN-NEVER" ELEC REPORT

20-day Post Election ELEC: ... by GrafixAvenger

In addition, if you are curious about the proposed amendments to Hoboken's Pay-to-Play ordinance, (which has already passed on First Reading), I've posted it in full below.

The changes aim to stop Dark Money contributions (to "IE"s) from those who have public contracts with the City of Hoboken. It also adds PACs and Super-PACs, but omits Unions.

That is a large omission. A lot of Union cash rolls into Hoboken campaigns. That said, I agree with the intent of the legislation.