Cresitello facing penalties over 2005 election

Four years after winning Morristown's mayoral seat, Donald Cresitello could face penalties for allegedly violating campaign finance laws during his 2005 general election run.

The complaint was issued Oct. 14 by the New Jersey Election Law Enforcement Commission, alleging Cresitello is in violation of filing campaign finance contributor and expenditure information nearly a year late, said NJ ELEC Executive Director Jeff Brindle.

Penalties have yet to be determined by the bipartisan NJ ELEC Commission, though Cresitello could face maximum fines of $6,000 per violation for the eight-count complaint, Brindle said.

Candidates running for office in the state are supposed to file campaign finance reports 29 days and 11 days prior to Election Day, as well as a 20-day post-election report.

Cresitello's reports were more than 300 days late, according to the complaint and Brindle.

Cresitello said of the complaint, "I haven't reviewed it yet. I know it's there."

The complaint comes four years after the 2005 election, which Brindle said is "unusual."

He added, "Our staff moves quickly to turn over complaints. This is rather unusual. The turnover rate is usually within a six-month period of time."

Brindle was not certain of when the commission was initially notified of the complaint.

But it could have taken longer than usual for various reasons, he said.

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