Steve Lonegan for Governor

Those who benefited from contract give to Christie campaign

from The Citizen of Morris County
By PHIL GARBER, Staff Writer
Published: Mar 26th, 6:49 AM

ROCKAWAY TWP. _ Former U.S. Attorney Christopher Christie has accepted $23,800 in campaign donations toward his race for governor from principals and spouses of a law firm that Christie had previously appointed to a multi-million no-bid contract to oversee the operations of the University of Medicine and Dentistry (UMDNJ).

With state matching funds included, the contributions total $71,400.

State election records show that Christie, a Republican from Mendham Township, received identical donations of the maximum $3,400 permitted under state law from John and Amy Inglesino of Rockaway Township on Jan. 20 and Jan 26; Herbert and Marcia Stern of Harding Township on Jan. 26; Kevin and Jane Kilcullen of Mendham on Jan. 21; and the election fund of John Inglesino on Jan. 16.

Under state public financing laws, candidates who have raised at least $340,000 qualify for state campaign funds. The state pays $2 for every $1 collected. That means the $23,800 in donations from Stern, Kilcullen, Inglesino and the spouses, will generate $47,600 more in state campaign funds for a total of $71,400.


Inglesino, a former Rockaway Township mayor and Morris County freeholder, said the contributions were not in violation of the state’s pay to play law because they were federal and not state contracts. Inglesino also said there was no violation because there was no “quid pro quo” that the firm would make contributions if it was awarded the contract.

Assemblyman Richard Merkt, R-Morris, of Mendham Township, a candidate for governor, said he was aware of the campaign contributions.

“I consider the reports troubling and a matter of serious concern,” Merkt said.

In his campaign, Merkt has pressed for an open, competitive primary to avoid issues such as the concerns over the contributions to Christie.

“It simply underscores the importance of having an open competitive process so all candidates are vetted,” Merkt said.

Steven Lonegan, also a Republican candidate for governor, said the contributions violate Christie’s longstanding commitment to end pay to play and no bid contracts.

“Chris Christie has made it abundantly clear that he will end pay to play, no bid contracts and corruption,” said Lonegan, a former Bogota mayor. “It’s clear he has flip-flopped on his commitment and the Democrats will use this to destroy him in November.”

A spokesperson for Christie did not return a phone call and e-mail for comment. Robert Asaro-Angelo, executive director of the N.J. Democratic State Committee, declined to comment.

Lucrative Contract

While U.S. Attorney, Christie awarded a contract in 2005 to oversee the University of Medicine and Dentistry of N.J. to Stern of the law firm of Stern and Kilcullen of Roseland. Inglesino, a former Morris County Freeholder, is a partner in the firm.

Published reports have said that Stern has billed the federal government $7 million for the work but Inglesino said on Monday the figure was closer to $3 million.

Christie has campaigned on his record for having prosecuted numerous public officials.

The state's pay to play law bars contributions of more than $300 from any contractor who is awarded state contracts worth more than $17,500. However, the contracts for Stern and Kilcullen were awarded by the federal government and state's pay to play laws would apparently not apply.

The investigation into the University of Medicine and Dentistry resulted in the conviction of former Democratic Sen. Wayne Bryant. Bryant was convicted of bribery for soliciting a job at the School of Osteopathic Medicine in Camden County and using his influence to help the school acquire $10.5 million in state grants between 2003 and 2006.

Stern, a former federal judge, was picked by Christie in December 2005 to audit and make recommendations over UMDNJ practices. The hiring of Stern as a monitor was part of an agreement that allowed the school to avoid prosecution on charges of Medicare and Medicaid fraud.

Inglesino was counsel to Stern during the monitoring period.

“The purpose of play to play is to avoid doling out contracts for campaign contributions,” Inglesino said. “Obviously, this wasn’t that.”

Inglesino said there was no quid pro quo when Stern was named monitor because at the time Christie was not considering a run for governor.

“Any reasonable person would conclude that a quid quo pro would be absurd,” Inglesino said. “This is ridiculous. This is ridiculous.”

Inglesino also said that donations from Kilcullen and Inglesino and their wives were not barred because Stern was personally named as the monitor and that Inglesino was attorney for Stern.

“The firm of Stern and Kilcullen was not engaged by UMDNJ nor by the federal government,” he said.

Inglesino said published reports were overblown that Stern had billed the government $7 million for the oversight work. He said that figure includes money that was paid to JH Cohen, the firm that reviewed the university’s finances and further funds paid to Sobel and Co. for its work into the investigation of the university.

The total billed by Stern was closer to $3 million for more than two years of work, Inglesino said.

Inglesino said he has been close friends with Christie for 15 years and has fully supported his run for governor.
Paid for by Lonegan for Governor, Inc.