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Citizens Campaign News Thursday July 30th, 2009 Issue 17 |
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Comment on the Issue of the Day
While the arrests last week show we need to bring the pay-to-play controls we put on the state government down to the local government, especially on development projects, perhaps even more evident is the need to recognize that we can't prosecute away this culture of corruption - New Jersey needs a Call to Service.
The Citizens' Campaign has been leading the charge to raise the standard of service in New Jersey. We recently won adoption of two state laws - The Citizen Service Act and the Party Democracy Act - both outlined below. By initiating, drafting and passing this legislation, we are opening the doors for citizen leadership service in New Jersey.
We have launched a Jersey Call to Service to bring 5,000 new leaders into powerful leadership positions in their communities. If you havent answered the Call, please go to our website at www.jointhecampaign.com and fill out the membership application to become a leader now.
Also, please forward this to someone you know and encourage them to answer the Call to Service.
Thank you,
Harry Pozycki,
Citizens Campaign Chairman
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Times Editorial Praises Party Democracy Act
Trenton Times
Democratizing the Parties
July 7, 2009
It seems like a simple thing to ask of county political parties that they have constitutions, bylaws and open, up-to-date membership lists. But it hasn't been the way some of them have done business.
In some counties, a small group, or even a lone party chairman, can call the shots, rig the selection of candidates, dictate how campaign cash is spent, and keep the county committee members -- neighborhood-level party officials whom the voters elected in primaries -- in the dark about even such basics as the identity of their fellow members. Would-be challengers to favored incumbents find high hurdles placed in their path. And when the county committee fills a vacancy in the New Jersey Senate or Assembly, as New Jersey law provides, party leaders observe how the members vote, exposing the members to the threat or perception of intimidation from people who may control their livelihoods.
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 Less talk more action! Jersey Call to Service |
Passage of Citizen Service Act sets the Stage for
Citizens' Campaigns' Jersey Call to Service
The Citizens' Campaign is proud of its role in initiating, drafting and passing the Citizen Service Act. The legislation received a unanimous vote by the State Senate, and Governor Corzine is expected to sign it into law within the next weeks. The Citizen Service Act drafted by the Citizens' Campaign's Legal Task Force, requires municipalities to create a directory of boards and commissions, vacancies, as well as current members and their terms. The act also provides for a "Citizen Leadership Form" for residents to apply to serve on government boards like the Recreation Commission, the Environmental Commission, the Cultural Commission or the Planning Board. The Jersey Call to Service is a statewide organizing and education effort created by the Citizens Campaign to recruit, and educate 5,000 citizens to take powerful leadership positions in their communities such as these appointed positions on government boards.
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