CAMPAIGN EVENT OR NON-POLITICAL FORUM?

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
AUGUST 9, 2010

CAMPAIGN EVENT OR NON-POLITICAL FORUM?

August 9, 2010 –Montclair Town Hall, Montclair NJ

There was a serious question on whether Congressman Bill Pascrell’s events today in Wayne and Montclair were informational events or campaign events. In Montclair, the township attorney decided that it was an information event. In his response to Pascrell’s opponent, Paterson businessman and Montclair resident Roland Straten’s request for equal access, Township attorney, Alan Trembulak wrote: “Our review of the literature related to this forum confirms that this is not a political or a campaign event, but rather, a routine, non-political forum conducted by an elected official for the purpose of providing relevant information to members of his constituency. The mere fact that Congressman Pascrell is running for re-election does not transform this informational forum into a campaign event.”

His staff, however, had a different take on the event as they attempted to prevent Straten from passing out flyers opposing the current healthcare bill. Alan Trembulak also appeared somewhat confused when he suggested to Straten that passing out flyers in opposition to the healthcare bill was a violation of campaign laws.

Straten, after having been denied equal access to Township Buildings had gone to the forum to hand out flyers stating his position on the healthcare bill. He was immediately approached by one of the Congressman’s staff and the Township attorney who told him he could not hand out literature in the Town Hall meeting room. Straten, after being pushed from the room, reentered the room and finished handing out his flyers. He then sat down to listen.

Ten minutes later, just as Pascrell was starting to get warmed up, Mark Kalinowski, a TeaParty leader came in and started to hand out his flyers. Once again, the Pascrell staff jumped into action trying to prevent Kalinowski from exercising his constitutional right of free speech. After a short confrontation, Kalinowski passed out his flyers and sat down to listen.

Both the Township attorney and Pascrell’s staff need a short lesson in consistency. If this was indeed a non-political informational event, both Straten and Kalinowski had every right to peacefully hand out flyers. If this was a campaign event, the Pascrell campaign had every right to bar opposition from the event.

The truth should be obvious to everyone. This was a campaign event. Just as Pascrell’s 4-color mailing flyer was a campaign mailer. But these campaign activities are being called informational activities for one reason. And that reason is to allow Bill Pascrell to use taxpayer money to promote his campaign.

It appears as if he can do this legally because he and his fellow incumbents make the rules. This gross violation of fair play should not be allowed to stand. It is time for a change.

Paid for by Straten for Congress PO Box 43254 Montclair, NJ 07043
www.rolandstraten.com