More Monmouth Musings asks: "Where are the by-laws?"

By the oh-so-mysterious “Frederick Lehlbach” of MMM asks a critically important question of integrity and transparency that is sorely lacking in the candidate selection process in Monmouth County at all levels:

Did you catch that highlighted part? “ensuring fundamental fairness and the rights of the members of the county committee in the governance of the county party.” It seems that the Legislature wanted the County Committee involved in the governance of the county party.  
 
Unfortunately, the statute failed to set a deadline for enactment, but it seems to me that almost two years is too long. Other GOP organizations in other Counties have managed to adopt By-Laws and operate under written standards. Only Monmouth County continues to be run as an Old Boy Network, where candidates are selected and policies made by a select few (or even a select one)
 
It is even more unfortunate that Senator Jennifer Beck and Assemblywoman Amy Handlin were sponsors of this law.  Where are they now?  What are the party leaders (and the legislators who passed this law) afraid of? Greater participation by motivated groups like the Tea Party will only strengthen the GOP. Shutting them out of the candidate selection process will only lead to contested Primaries and divisiveness. (See 6th Congressional District Primary, June 2010) If the Party is going to pick who “gets the line”, then it should pick who gets the line by the most open method possible. (Or really open it up and don’t give out the line, instead having truly “Open Primaries”)
 
I call on Monmouth County’s GOP Senators, Assemblymembers and Freeholders to pressure Chairman Joe to open up the process, adopt By-Laws and answer to the long neglected Party roots, the County Committee.

Read more at Art's place.

For your reference, here is the law:

19:5-3.2. Adoption of constitution, bylaws by county committee, posting on Internet website.

3.     The members of the county committee of a political party shall adopt a constitution and bylaws, ensuring fundamental fairness and the rights of the members of the county committee in the governance of the county party. The constitution and bylaws of a county committee shall be posted and displayed on its Internet website, if the committee has a website. A county committee shall provide a copy of its constitution and bylaws to the county board of elections of the county, and the constitution and bylaws shall be posted and displayed on the county board's Internet website, if the county board has a website.

L.2009, c.135, s.3.

And said by-laws shall be produced within 48 hours of request by a committee member:

19:5-3. Membership and organization of county committees; vacancies; certification of unit of representation and number of election districts.

Any person elected or appointed to membership on the county committee pursuant to R.S.19:5-2 may request, in writing and by certified mail to the county chairperson, such constitution or bylaws currently in effect. The committee member requesting the constitution or bylaws shall receive the constitution or bylaws within 48 hours of the receipt of the request by the chairperson. The chairperson shall preside at all meetings of the committee and shall perform all duties required by law and the constitution and bylaws of such committee.

So again, where are the by-laws?

BTPG

Comments

[Charles Measley]

The fact they don’t have bylaws by this time is a disgrace. And the fact that the Monmouth County GOP leadership is planning to only have the town chairs vote is not only a disgrace but is also illegal! The entire committee is suppose to vote!

19:5-3.2. Adoption of constitution, bylaws by county committee.

3. The members of the county committee of a political party shall adopt a constitution and bylaws.