News Article

Essex County Executive Defends Campaign Spending Practices

By Katie Colaneri, WBGO News
Newark. January 31, 2012

Essex County Executive Joe DiVincenzo is coming back at critics who’ve questioned his spending practices.

DiVincenzo’s campaign finance reports show he made purchases with his personal debit and credit cards and reimbursed himself with money from his campaign account. Recent expenses include numerous golf outings, dinners at pricey restaurants, and a flight to Puerto Rico.

He says he’s being misrepresented.

“I don’t live that type of lifestyle that’s being portrayed.”

DiVincenzo says he’s playing by the rules, and believes there’s nothing wrong with using campaign funds to make deals that benefit county residents.

“All the money that they’re saying that I used on these meals, alright, were money that I brought into the county, close to $50 million that I brought into this county.”

New Jersey law says campaign funds can be spent on certain necessary expenses of holding public office.

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