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The Star-Ledger
Authorities probe
Union County Democrats
by Ian T. Shearn.
nj.com from the Web, November 9, 2007
State officials have opened an
investigation into matters involving some of Union County's most powerful
Democrats, The Star-Ledger has learned.
The focus of the ongoing investigation points toward county Democratic
Chairwoman Charlotte DeFilippo, the former freeholder who heads the Union County
Improvement Authority and is a legislative aide to Assemblyman Neil Cohen
(D-Union).
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Patti Sapone/The Star-Ledger
Union
County Democratic Chairwoman Charlotte DeFilippo at her Hillside
home last year. |
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DeFilippo confirmed the existence of
five subpoenas that demand documents and information about her public and
private business dealings. The contents of the subpoenas, which were
served in September and October, were described by DeFilippo this week in an
interview.
"When you wear several hats, you acquire enemies over the years," she said.
DeFilippo is a towering political figure in Union County, where Democrats
dominate most town councils and have held a 9-0 lock on the freeholder board
since 1997. She does not hold elected office. But as head of the
county committee, DeFilippo hand picks the Democratic candidates for freeholder,
mayor and council in the county.
According to DeFilippo, the subpoenas seek:
-- Financial and other documents for the last three years from the Improvement
Authority, which each year awards millions in contracts to construction, law and
engineering firms.
-- An explanation of her duties as Cohen's aide. Cohen said he also
received a subpoena in late October, asking for any records pertaining to his
employment of DeFilippo.
-- All records relating to the county Democratic Committee's involvement in last
year's primary election in Roselle, in which allegations of voter fraud are
being investigated by the state Division of Criminal Justice.
-- A client list and financial records from Camelot Title Agency, a Woodbridge
company in which DeFilippo owns a minority stake.
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