Enlisting N.J. citizens in the fight for reform
Your Turn
Carole Balmer Guest Column

As a new governor prepares to take office, New Jersey has begun to make progress in combating the political corruption that wastes tax dollars, distorts our politics and hurts our state’s image.

New Jersey now has significant pay-to-play protections on the state level — protections that reduce the link between political contributions and lucrative state contracts. Furthermore, legislation was signed into law giving municipalities and counties clear and broad enabling authority to continue to adopt their own strong pay-to-play reforms.

These and other reforms have been adopted because New Jersey citizens have begun to stand up and say no to the business-as-usual political practices that have cost our state so much. For example, citizens and local elected officials in more than 60 municipalities have gained adoption of strong local pay-to-play laws by personally petitioning their town councils and sometimes by forcing binding voter referendum on reform. And, during the gubernatorial campaign, political corruption emerged as one of the two top issues of concern in all the polls, with pay-to-play reform identified as the No. 1 reform solution.

This wave of constructive citizen action and growing civic responsibility provides a foundation that Gov. Jon Corzine can build on. However, the governor’s reform agenda needs to go beyond specific new legislation and executive-branch ethics improvements. While winning the adoption of comprehensive pay-to-play reform and adopting executive-branch ethics improvements are essential, they are not sufficient to change New Jersey’s political culture for the long term.

A new political culture that puts people before political bosses can only emerge through the stepped-up participation of New Jersey’s citizens in government and politics. After all, political corruption has thrived in this state in large measure because citizens have remained on the sidelines. Most New Jersey citizens know little or nothing about our state’s power structure. Furthermore, research shows that New Jerseyans know less about their elected officials and state government than residents of other states. This is due mainly to the absence of New Jersey broadcast television news and a fragmented newspaper market.

Gov. Corzine should set a goal of making New Jersey’s citizenry the most politically informed and powerful in the nation. As President John F. Kennedy used the bully pulpit to issue a ringing call to service for a new generation and new programs such as the Peace Corps, Gov. Corzine should use the spotlight that only a governor can shine on a problem to enlist New Jersey citizens in the fight to reform our state.

This gubernatorial call to arms could include new programs to teach citizens how the political power structure works and about their legal rights, and to hold political and governmental leaders accountable. The plan could also include a gubernatorial initiative to open up the government-appointments process so that more citizens can bring their leadership into public service.

In addition, Gov. Corzine could encourage all New Jerseyans to participate as members of local, county and state government boards and commissions. To ensure that regular citizens have the opportunity to participate, Gov. Corzine can tear down the closed shop of government appointments by adopting a directory that lists all government appointments and vacancies and guarantees an open selection process.

Our experience is that when New Jerseyans are asked to participate and are equipped with the tools and political education to exercise power, they respond. Gov. Corzine has the unique opportunity to cultivate this fertile soil by empowering and challenging New Jersey’s citizens to take responsibility for reforming politics and holding accountable the governments of their towns and this state.

Harry S. Pozycki, chairman

Citizens Campaign

Center for Civic Responsibility, Metuchen