May 9, 2021
For Immediate Release
For info, contact defendhaddonfield@protonmail.com
Citizens Group Calls on Haddonfield Commissioner to Resign, Withdraw from Election
Urges Candidates and Commissioners to Denounce Outside Interference in Local Election
Defend Haddonfield! is calling for Colleen Bianco Bezich to immediately resign from the Borough Commission and to withdraw her name from consideration for re-election. This demand comes on a heels of reports on Twitter and in the national publication Politico describing the efforts of the “Committee for Responsible Governance” to influence elections in Collingswood and Haddonfield.
We also call upon Mayor Neal Rochford and all of the candidates in Tuesday’s election to denounce this direct and unprecedented involvement of the Norcross machine in our borough’s local election, based on the following two facts:
1. Norcross Advisor Sponsored Mass Mailing Supporting Bezich
The “Committee for Responsible Governance” is a creation of, and is run by, Dennis Culnan, Sr., whom the New York Times called “one of [George] Norcross's closest advisers and friends.” Mr. Culnan has twice mailed out flyers in support of Colleen Bianco Bezich’s campaign, apparently to every address in Haddonfield.
This large-scale outside involvement in Haddonfield’s local election demonstrates what we have been saying for weeks: George Norcross and the Norcross organization are determined to take control over our Borough government. Ms. Bianco Bezich has been a key participant in this effort from day one and her re-election is critical to their plans for Haddonfield.
Although the mailers claim to have been sent independently and not from the Bezich campaign, we find this absurd. Ms. Bianco Bezich accepted a substantial amount of money from Mr. Culnan in the past, yet now both she and he claim that she and her committee have nothing to do with these mailings.
Additionally, Mr. Culnan has not reported his expenditures to the NJ Election Law Enforcement Commission, which is required by state law if he spent $1,900 or more on these mailings. Politico said it is “highly unlikely that [Culnan’s Committee] has spent less than $1,900” on the mailers he sent out in Collingswood. Having recently done a mailing ourselves, we believe the same is true for what he has done in Haddonfield.
2. Bezich Has Kept Mum on Her Connections or Plans for Bancroft
Bezich has failed to acknowledge her association with Mr. Norcross and has described our substantial evidence as “lies,” “inaccuracies,” and “baseless allegations.” Our statements are fully documented and includes newspaper articles, her financial reports, and direct statements by Norcross’s political chief Jim Beach.
Defend Haddonfield! does not know the plans Mr. Norcross has for Haddonfield, but we recently revealed that Mr. Norcross, Jack Tarditi, and Louis Bezich worked together in an effort to build a large hockey arena and civic center in Pennsauken. This, combined with Ms. Bezich’s continued unwillingness to make any definitive statements on her vision for the Bancroft property, has led us to believe that Ms. Bezich is a key player in an effort by George Norcross, Jack Tarditi, and perhaps Louis Bezich, to gain control of the Bancroft property and to develop it in a way that will be of financial benefit to them.
A Borough Commissioner has one job: to serve the town and its people. Ms. Bianco Bezich is inextricably tied to George Norcross and the Norcross machine. She cannot be an independent voice. She cannot serve both us and them.
____________________
Defend Haddonfield! is a non-partisan group of Haddonfield citizens formed to fight the growing influence of George Norcross and the Norcross organization in Haddonfield.
PDF of this press release:
Link to Politico article: Proxy war: Dark money group led by Norcross friend dominates small town election (politico.com)