Mayor Richard Pucci has followed through on his plan to appoint a panel to review government ethics and the financing of local campaigns and, given the folks he’s appointed I may have been too quick to criticize.
While I don’t necessairly believe that a panel is necessary — the reforms seem pretty obvious to me — I have to assume that the group assembled will be committed to tackling the very real problems that plague Monroe and the rest of the state.
The mayor dismisses the problems — he says the press reports about his job as a paid consultant for a firm that did work for a developer with significant interests in the township took on a life of their own and that there was nothing to the relationship.
But, as he also knows, perception is reality in politics and, while his relationship may have been kosher (an arguable point at best), the appearance was pretty shabby.
Mayor Pucci worked for New Directions in Responsible Leadership, the political action committee founded by former state Sen. John Lynch. Mr. Lynch and his business partner are allegedly under federal investigation. The Lynch accepted contributions from Joe Morris, the developer of the Applegarth Professional Center on Applegarth Road and the principle in the firm proposing — along with Steve Kalafer, owner of the Somerset Patriots — a mixed-use development including a stadium for an independent-league baseball team on Route 33.
One could follow the money, if one was so inclined, from Mr. Morris to Mr. Lynch to Mr. Pucci.
Hence, the formation of the panel.
As I said, though, the logical reforms seem pretty obvious:
Public funding of political campaigns tied to a ban on accepting more than a small amount of private contributions.
A stronger pay-to-play ban at all levels of government.
A ban on dual office holding and a ban on elected and appointed office holders doing consulting work for other government agencies or firms that do business with governments.
Consider this my own contribution to the effort.
South Brunswick Post, The Cranbury Press
Hank Kalet 
