Political Opportunism & Manipulation In E.R.

 Rejected By Bergen County Election Office

Republican Councilman Stopped From Running as a Democrat

                                                                               September 6, 2018

(East Rutherford, NJ) A curious object popped up last week in East Rutherford:  Political campaign signs bearing the name of Jeff LaHullier – a current Republican Councilman — running as Democrat for re-election to the borough council in November.

But LaHullier’s plans to get on the General Election ballot were rejected this week by the Election Division of The Bergen County Clerk’s Office, which ruled that LaHullier was ineligible to be a Democratic candidate for council because he lost the Primary Election while running as a Republican.

In making its decision, the clerk’s office cited NJSA 19:13-14.1, which reads in part that “a person whose name appears on the ballot in a Primary election for the General Election as candidate shall not be eligible to serve as the candidate of any other political party for that office in that municipality in the General election.”

LaHullier was soundly beaten in the June 5 Republican Primary, finishing third in a three-person race. The man who defeated him in the Primary, Joel Brizzi said: “Not only is Councilman LaHullier violating state law, he is also fracturing the trust and wishes of people in the community.”

After seeing campaign signs around town emblazoned with LaHullier’s name, Brizzi sent a letter to the Bergen County Clerk John Hogan asking that LaHullier remove him from the November ballot.

“Councilman LaHullier was already rejected by voters, he doesn’t get another chance to reinvent himself and get back on the ballot,” said Brizzi, a former councilman.

Brizzi suggested that LaHullier’s jump to the Democratic Party was planned as a contingency if he lost the Primary Election.

Public records show that within days of losing the Primary, LaHullier changed his party affiliation to Democratic. LaHullier’s change occurred a week before the untimely passing of his Republican Primary running mate Councilman George Perry. Perry’s passing created an opening on the Republican ticket that was filled this week by Tom Banca.

Several weeks later one of the Democrats that ran in the June Primary Election bowed out, creating a vacancy on the Democratic ticket. That vacancy was filled by LaHullier

“You don’t have to be Sherlock Holmes to figure out that this scenario was concocted long before the June Primary among officials in the local Democratic Party and Mr. LaHullier,” said Brizzi – who noted that the scheme bears all the hallmarks of the local Democratic Party Chairman Councilman Ed Ravettine, who has switched political parties several times.

Two years ago, Ravettine enticed LaHullier while he was a Republican – to openly endorsed Democrats in a local council race, said Brizzi.

LaHullier and Ravettine have until September 13 to appeal the election division ruling.  Brizzi said that would be a mistake.

“There are several things that should be troubling to residents; one is that Jeff LaHullier is demonstrating nothing but raw, naked political ambition; the second is that he has no loyalty to any party or beliefs; and the third is that Mr. LaHullier used George Perry’s good name and personal popularity to try to land the Republican nomination for council. When that failed, he immediately jumped into the waiting arms of Ed Ravettine,” said Brizzi.

Brizzi also said there may be personal financial motives for LaHullier to fight to stay on the council. Besides the stipend LaHullier receives as a councilman, he and his family receive a generous health benefits package from the borough that is estimated to cost taxpayers $40,000 a year.

“I am sure the possibility of losing those benefits is one factor in his decision to try to stay on the ballot,” said Brizzi.

“I think the county clerk’s office did the right thing and invalidated Councilman LaHullier’s candidacy,” said Brizzi.