Ex-con funds retirement with leftover campaign money

Ted Sherman of The (Newark) Star-Ledger reports on how former Essex County Executive Tom D’Alessio, after serving time on political corruption charges, converted leftover campaign funds into a non-profit foundation that helps support his retirement. “Last year, the foundation reported it gave out $37,750 in contributions of $500 or so to dozens of organizations like the March of Dimes, the United Way and the Boy Scouts. It also paid D’Alessio an $81,708 salary as executive director, leased a $45,665 Mercedes-Benz for him and purchased a $432,000 luxury condominium on Marco Island along Florida’s Gulf Coast.” New Jersey law permits the practice even though it bars former political candidates from simply taking leftover funds.