Political corruption is as dangerous as terrorism or, perhaps, even more so because it attacks institutions from within. Its effects are persistent, surreptitious and demolishing.
It is not only taxpayer money that goes down the drain with corruption -- the greatest injury is to the people's faith in political parties, government institutions and democracy itself.
Who has declared war on the politically corrupt? Where will the walls be built to contain its disastrous effects?
Allegations Against Bryant Norm For N.J. Politics
Wednesday, October 11, 2006
After reading in the Courier-Post about the scandal involving state Sen. Wayne Bryant, D-Lawnside, the first instinct is to declare: "This is incredible!"
On second thought, however, Bryant's adventures are not at all rare. This is the norm for the South Jersey political machine.
Courier-Post reporter Sarah Greenblatt wrote that the powerful democratic senator used his influence so the University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey would create a made-to-measure job for him.
Bryant made $35,000 annually for working three hours per week. The term "work" is used loosely, as the senator reportedly spent his time reading newspapers. He held this position for three years, from 2003 to until this year.
At the time of this scandal, Bryant was still chairman of the state Senate Budget and Appropriations Committee. He is on temporary leave from this position as a consequence of the controversy.
The state's contributions to the UMDNJ Stratford campus, increased from $8.4 million to $12.8 million during the three years Bryant held his three-hour-per-week job with this institution.
A state auditor told the Courier-Post his team concluded Bryant was hired by UMDNJ for a position in which he did not have to work so that he would use his power in the state's Legislature to benefit the institution.
News reports do not say how much of an effort UMDNJ had to put forth in order to convince the senator to accept the job.
According to Courier-Post records, scandals involving Bryant began at least 10 years ago. Some of the recorded issues:
1996: After a federal audit by the Housing Authority in Camden, Bryant was asked to pay back $1.58 million to the federal government for unnecessary expenses, including $733,391 in legal payments to Bryant's legal firm from 1992 to 1995.
February 2005: A Courier-Post investigation showed Bryant received $167,000 annually from four taxpayer-supported positions and his firm made millions in legal fees for public works over several years.
This report also showed that Bryant's wife, his son and his sister-in-law made a combined $685,000 per year in salaries corresponding to 10 positions in the public sector.
Bryant has refused to comment.
April 2005: Assemblywoman Nilsa Cruz-Perez, D-Camden, said in an interview recorded by the Courier-Post that Bryant's legal office earned $270,000 in a contract to represent Camden in an eminent domain process against the residents, and that this represented a conflict of interest. Bryant, who represents Camden's district, later declared Cruz-Perez had told him her comments had been misinterpreted.
The Courier-Post's reports also remind us that from the money the state gave to Camden in 2002, $1 million was transferred to CamCare Health Corp., a nonprofit organization headed by the senator's brother, Lawnside Mayor Mark Bryant.
And Wayne Bryant is not only worried about making money for himself and his family; he apparently also thinks of his friends. The Courier-Post reported that Randy Primas, Camden's chief operating officer, will see his pension increased by $28,525 thanks to his friend Bryant.
Primas, who earns $175,000 per year in his current position, stopped working with the state government in 1992 to get involved with Commerce Capital Corp. However, he is still covered by the state pension system because Bryant got him a job as financial adviser of his town, Lawnside.
Although Primas's salary was only $2,000 per year, he was able to accumulate nine additional years of service to the state, which not only keeps him in the state pension system, but will allow him to receive $28,525 more per year when he retires.
Documents obtained by Courier-Post reporters indicate that when $36 million of emergency aid was secured for Camden in July, Bryant cast the decisive vote so that another $1 million would be included. From this amount, $56,000 ended up as payment for legal services provided by Bryant's firm.
This column offers a brief synopsis of recent reports about Bryant. His behavior is common in the political machine.
And we were naively thinking this type of conduct was exclusive to underdeveloped countries where political corruption leads to bad decisions.
By the way, political corruption is as dangerous as terrorism or, perhaps, even more so because it attacks institutions from within. Its effects are persistent, surreptitious and demolishing.
It is not only taxpayer money that goes down the drain with corruption -- the greatest injury is to the people's faith in political parties, government institutions and democracy itself.
Who has declared war on the politically corrupt? Where will the walls be built to contain its disastrous effects?
The writer is editor of Nuestra Comunidad, a Spanish-language weekly published by the Courier-Post. This column appears on this page and in the weekly Wednesdays.
Copyright 2006 CourierPostOnline.com. All rights reserved
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