N.J. NAACP files ethics complaint against Sens. Lesniak and Bateman

[The Straight Story]

N.J. NAACP files ethics complaint against Sens. Lesniak and Bateman


The New Jersey NAACP, Tuesday filed a formal ethics complaint with the state Joint Legislative Committee on Ethical Standards, asking for an investigation of whether Senators Raymond J. Lesniak (D-Union) and Christopher "Kip'' Bateman (R-Somerset) violated the code by sponsoring legislation to change the affordable housing obligations of cities and towns while they or their law firms represent 40 of them as paid counsels.

"Senators Lesniak and Bateman have violated the public trust in intermeshing their private legal work and their service to the public as legislators,'' said Mike McNeil, New Jersey NAACP housing chairman. "We are today asking the Joint Legislative Committee on Ethical Standards to determine the extent of the violation of public trust and to require Senators Lesniak and Bateman to recuse themselves from further debate on the bill."
The complaint was filed by NAACP President James E. Harris.

Lesniak and Bateman are co-sponsors of bill S-1, which would, among other things, abolish the state Council on Affordable Housing and eliminate the affordable housing obligations of some 283 cities and towns. The NAACP and other affordable housing advocacy groups oppose the legislation.

Colandus "Kelly" Francis, president of the Camden County NAACP, said, "When this legislation impacts over $33 million in deals that Senators Lesniak and Bateman's clients have put together to try to avoid building affordable housing, there are serious questions about whether the senators can play a role in the process disconnected from their business interests."

http://www.newjerseynewsroom.com/state/nj-naacp-files-ethics-complaint-against-sens-lesniak-and-bateman