Ex-Councilman Cited for Failing to File Election Expenses

Former Ramsey Councilman Bruce Vozeh was one of eight Bergen County politicians pegged by the state Election Law Enforcement Commission last week for a failure to file campaign finance reports for the 2011 primary election.

According to ELEC, Vozeh, who ran for a seat on the Ramsey borough council last year, did not file necessary expense-reporting paperwork with the state. The agency formally filed a complaint against Vozeh last week.

“I filed everything for the general election, and we didn’t raise or spend any money on the primary,” Vozeh told Patch Monday morning. “I thought [the necessary] form had been submitted, but [ELEC says] that it hasn't, so I just filled out another one and submitted it.”

According to ELEC spokesman Joe Donohue, Vozeh and the 61 other state politicians cited last week could face penalties up to $6800, but anyone willing to file the missing documents and cooperate with the agency will likely be fined a lot less.

“That’s the maximum we can assess, but we have a lot of discretion,” Donohue said. “We are here mainly to ensure disclosure, not to punish people.”

Donohue said candidates on the list have 20 days to answer the citation by either filing the missing documents or requesting a hearing.

“If they disagree, they can ask for a hearing before an administrative judge,” Donohue said.

Vozeh won the 2011 election, but was appointed to Borough Administrator earlier this year. Joe Verdone was appointed in August to fill his seat, and was elected in November to finish out the two-year unexpired term.

Seven other politicians running for municipal offices in Bergen County were also cited for failing to submit reports for the primary election - Shalissa Burgess, a council candidate in Englewood, Dumont mayoral candidate James O'Neil and council candidates Frank Polise and Robert Zeitlinger, and Norwood mayoral candidate James Barsa and council candidates Marianne Orecchio and Barry Scott.

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