OPINION: Murphy’s Tired Act on Transparency

Gov. Phil Murphy’s claims of heading one of the most transparent administrations is a tale we can no longer take.

The tipping point for us is the ultimate inside baseball stories of politics—his move to replace those that serve on the state’s Election Law Enforcement Commission (ELEC). Slipped into the  Elections Transparency Act, it would allow the non-political commission to become politicized, removing its current commissioners and temporarily giving Murphy direct appointment powers over their successors.

The legislation, first offered last Spring in an effort to revamp current campaign finance laws, was delayed last month after ELEC Executive Director Jeff Brindle went public about attempts to force him to resign due to an email that question the celebration of Coming Out Day versus celebrating the birthdays of George Washington and Abraham Lincoln.

And then just days ahead of the State Senate vote on the measure last week, Brindle filed a lawsuit against Murphy and three officials for harassment. When asked about the story during an Ask the Governor show this week, Murphy fell back on reasons he has used in the past to avoid an answer: the legislation isn’t on his desk, the latter is a personnel matter, and his administration is being sued over it.

That is such bull, tiresome and disrespectful to the residents of New Jersey. 

Repeatedly, Murphy as governor has hid what seemingly has become his motto for issues he does not want to confront or has a bad answer for. It started with Katie Brennan, then was used continuously during the pandemic—including the removal of a top health department official and waiting forever to start a post mortem on his administration’s choices during the pandemic that will cynically be published after the 2023 elections—to now the upheaval at ELEC.

And let’s be frank, Brindle is no hero in this conflict—the New Jersey Monitor released a story Friday that shows a pattern of Brindle negatively commenting on LGBTQ stories and a possible violation of the state’s anti-discrimination policy. 

It’s no secret in New Jersey politics is that Murphy is looking for his next job—a run for the White House if President Joe Biden decides not to seek a second term or even in the Biden Administration itself. To that end, Murphy has no problem with giving his opinion on book banning in Florida or restricting a woman’s right to choose Texas or voting rights in Georgia. 

But why are you seeking significant changes on the nonpartisan watchdog of elections in the state you govern? Sorry, can’t talk about that. 

How weak.

We have been more supporters than critics of Murphy during his term. But much like his predecessor but in a different style, his hubris is his achilles’ heel. And that was again on display this week.

What is most frustrating is that there may be good reasons for wanting to revamp ELEC. But the silence on the subject and the selected leaks on both sides make it look like a fight against a political foe.

Transparency from the Murphy Administration is not just needed but called for in any attempt to remove Brindle. Murphy has made no statement on why the changes are needed at ELEC. Neither have Democrats who passed the bill. At least Senate Senate President Nicholas Scutari went to the floor to defend the change with campaign finance laws.

Instead, Murphy ducked another tough issue again. A pattern of behavior that should hamper—and deservedly so—any ambitions he has past being Governor.