Out of the $26,300 raised by the Mantua Township Democratic Executive Committee, $21,500 was contributed by contractors affiliated with Mantua's government. This influx of donations followed changes made two years ago when New Jersey's state Legislature significantly altered the pay-to-play law. This law previously aimed to prevent companies from securing contracts through campaign contributions.
An analysis by NJ Advance Media revealed that these changes have led to a surge in campaign funds for political entities across New Jersey. Reformers acknowledge the issue of backroom deals but question why stricter regulations were not pursued to prevent such practices altogether.
Julia Sass Rubin, a professor at Rutgers' Edward J. Bloustein School of Planning and Public Policy, commented on the situation: "This just opens the spigots and makes it easier and more likely that it will take place."
In Middlesex County, significant sums are being funneled into the Democratic party's coffers. The county is represented by Assembly Speaker Coughlin, who has facilitated millions in funding for local projects. In 2024 alone, contractors contributed over $697,000 to the Middlesex County Democratic Organization—55% of its total fundraising for that year.
Notably, R3M Engineering donated $65,000 to the party while reporting $3.6 million in business dealings with the Middlesex County Utility Authority. Neither R3M owner Maura Samuel nor county party chairman Kevin McCabe provided comments on these transactions.
Assemblyman Brian Bergen expressed concern over these developments: "The sum of all of this is making New Jersey a less affordable place," he stated. "And it’s making government work less for the people and more for the people with money."
Rubin further explained: "What it means is that contracts are being awarded not on the basis of who is most qualified but potentially on who has given the largest sums of money to those decision makers." Whether these issues will impact voter sentiment remains uncertain.
