A special election for the Bergen County sheriff will be held on November 6, aligning with the general election.

The former sheriff, Michael Saudino, resigned after controversial comments he said in January were made public.

The county will send out an addendum to the already sent absentee ballots.

By a vote of 6-1, the Bergen County Board of Freeholders has, for the second time in less than a year, reformed the county’s pay-to-play laws.

Essentially reversing the May 2013 bill, Monday’s resolution lowers the allowed contribution from no-bid county contractors from $5,200 to $2,000.

Freeholder John Felice, the only individual to vote against the bill, worries it may result in only wealthy citizens running for office.

By a vote of 6-1, the Bergen County Board of Freeholders introduced a resolution to reverse last year’s pay-to-play ordinance.

The resolution would lower the allowed campaign contribution from no-bid contractors from $5,200 to $2,000.

County Executive Kathleen Donovan vetoed last year’s limits but is said to support the latest introduced changes.

On May 15, the Bergen County, New Jersey Board of Chosen Freeholders voted to override County Executive Kathleen A. Donovan’s veto of the new pay-to-play ordinance that passed on May 1.

This is the second pay-to-play ordinance vetoed by the county executive in the last eight months. On October 5, 2012, Donovan had vetoed a prior pay-to-play measure passed by the Board.

Freeholder Ordinance 13-06 changes the code to include lowering the debarment period for future county contracts from four years to one year. Under the new ordinance, contractors will also be able to make political contributions up to $5,200 to county political parties.

According to NorthJersey.com, another vote on the ordinance is required because the public notice for the legislation was not properly published. The board next meets on Wednesday, May 22.

Bergen County, New Jersey County Executive Kathleen A. Donovan has vetoed the Board of Chosen Freeholders’ new pay-to-play ordinance that passed on May 1.

This is the second pay-to-play ordinance vetoed by the county executive in the last eight months. On October 5, 2012, Donovan had vetoed a prior pay-to-play measure passed by the Board.

In her press release, the county executive called the newer legislation “an ill-conceived attempt to weaken what has been described as one of the strongest ordinances banning pay-to-play in the State of New Jersey.” Among the reasons cited by Donovan for the veto of Freeholder Ordinance 13-06 are the increase in contribution limits and the weakening of penalties for those found in violation of the pay-to-play law.

Because the new ordinance initially passed by a 6-1 vote, the veto could be overridden by the Board in a future vote.

The Bergen County New Jersey Board of Chosen Freeholders passed an ordinance yesterday modifying the county’s pay-to-play laws.

NorthJersey.com reports the Board voted 6-1 in favor of changes to the code that include lowering the debarment period for future county contracts from four years to one year. Contractors will also be able to make political contributions up to $5,200 to county political parties.

The ordinance must next go to County Executive Kathleen Donovan. Executive Donovan vetoed prior pay-to-play measures last year. If the ordinance is not vetoed, or if a veto is overridden, it will become effective 20 days after publication.

Freeholder Maura DeNicola cast the single vote against the ordinance, calling it “an incumbent protection program” according to NorthJersey.com.

The Bergen County, New Jersey Board of Chosen Freeholders will consider revising its pay-to-play ordinances on Wednesday, September 19.

Bergen County has only had its local pay-to-play ordinance since December. According to NorthJersey.com, proposed changes “would strip the requirement that contractors report their contributions to candidates on the municipal, state, and federal level, leaving only county campaigns on the mandatory reporting form.”

While the proposal was introduced on September 12 and is scheduled for an October 3 consideration, the Freeholder’s agenda lists the ordinance introduction for Wednesday.

The Bergen County, New Jersey Board of Chosen Freeholders issued a memorandum clarifying its pay-to-play ordinance adopted last year.

In the section of the ordinance concerning the prohibition on awarding contracts to certain contributors, the phrase “any candidate for elective office in the County of Bergen or holder of elective office in the County of Bergen” is used.

The Board’s memorandum states the phrase is limited to persons “who run for, or are elected to” county offices. The phrase does not include candidates for a municipal office held in the county, statewide candidates for the Assembly or Senate, or federal candidates whose district includes Bergen County.

More information can be found at the Corporate Political Activity Law Blog.