Reports Show Small War Chests in Battle for BYOB and Council Seats

Campaign finance reports filed by City Council candidates and two political committees on opposite sides of the BYOB question show mostly small contributions and expenses.

The New Jersey Election Law Enforcement Commission (ELEC) released on Monday reports that were required to be filed 29 days before the May 8 municipal election. The ELEC reports are designed to make elections more transparent by disclosing to the public campaign contributors and campaign expenses.

The richest campaign is that of the Committee to Preserve Ocean City — the political committee opposing the "Bring Your Own Bottle" (BYOB) initiative. The committee's 29-day pre-election report shows $11,556 in contributions but shows no detail on contributors (it was unclear on Monday if the omission was ELEC's or the committee's). The ELEC website shows no report filed by the Friends of Shop, Dine and Play in Ocean City — the political committee supporting BYOB.

Several candidates declared that they intended to spend less than $4,000 on the campaign, which limits the reporting requirements. The hottest race may be in the Fourth Ward, where three candidates are vying for one seat.

The May 8 election in Ocean City will decide four seats on City Council and a binding ballot question on allowing BYOB restaurants in the dry town. Some ELEC reports are shown in the attached PDFs.

BYOB POLITICAL COMMITTEES:

Committee to Preserve Ocean City: The political committee opposing the BYOB initiative filed a 29-day pre-election report that declares $11,556 in contributions — including $9,418 in donation(s) greater than $300 and $2,138 in donations of $300 or less. The committee has spent $4,861.80.

None of the other pages or schedules showing the detail of contributions and expenses is posted.

Friends of Shop, Dine and Play in Ocean City: The political committee supporting the BYOB initiative has registered with the New Jersey Election Law Enforcement Commission, but no pre-election campaign finance report has been posted on the ELEC website.

FIRST WARD:

Michael DeVlieger: Reported $1,575 in contributions ($1,175 from himself and $400 in donations of $300 or less). DeVlieger spent $1,175 (including $400 for advertising on Ocean City Patch).

Fred Hoffman: Completed Form A-1 stating that he does not plan to spend more than $4,000 on the campaign or accept any contribution greater than $300 (without reporting it). Hoffman later reported a $100 contribution from a First Ward retiree.

SECOND WARD:

Antwan McClellan: No reports for McClellan are posted.

John W. Quinn: Completed Form A-1 stating that he does not plan to spend more than $4,000 on the campaign or accept any contribution greater than $300 (without reporting it).

Quinn also filed a 29-day pre-election report declaring $425 in monetary contributions of $300 or less and $100 in expenditures.

THIRD WARD:

Steven Fenichel: Completed Form A-1 stating that he does not plan to spend more than $4,000 on the campaign or accept any contribution greater than $300 (without reporting it).

Anthony P. Wilson: Completed Form A-1 stating that he does not plan to spend more than $4,000 on the campaign or accept any contribution greater than $300 (without reporting it).

FOURTH WARD:

Pete Guinosso: Reported $4,063 in contributions (including $2,000 from himself and $2,063 in small donations) and $1,283.71 in expenses — the bulk of it for a mailing. Guinosso has a balance of $2,779.29.

Ed Price: Reported $3,700 in contributions (including $2,000 from himself and $1,700 in small donations) and $2,355.42 in expenses — the bulk of it for a mailing and radio commercials on WIBG-AM. Price has a balance of $1,344.58.

Bart Russell: Completed Form A-1 stating that he does not plan to spend more than $4,000 on the campaign or accept any contribution greater than $300 (without reporting it). Russell later submitted a form reporting $1,347 in contributions, including $299 from Brian and Caren Broadley. Brian Broadley is owner of Broadley's MDI, a Marmora plumbing and HVAC company, and he is president of the Ocean City Regional Chamber of Commerce.