via Brick Shorebeat – It’s no secret. The Brick Township School Board is powered financially and politically by the North Jersey Democratic political machine. In fact, School Board President Stephanie Wohlrab is a professional campaign fundraiser for Democrats statewide, according to Brick Shorebeat.
Brick Township is the only town in Ocean County where North Jersey Democrats have a firm grip on power at both the municipal and school board level.
“Having served as finance director for the campaigns of U.S. Sen. Bob Menendez, Newark Mayor Ras Baraka as well as finance chair of the Democratic State Committee and Senate Majority Office. In Aug. 2017, while a member of the board, Wohlrab registered an independent-expenditure committee – commonly known as a Super PAC – called America’s Urban Future,” Daniel Nee, editor of Shorebeat reported.
Now, according to a report, Wohlrab is under investigation for awarding an $80,000 contract to an insurance brokerage firm, which contributed to her Super PAC. The incident bears close resemblance to the Ritacco era corruption in Toms River, which also involved an insurance brokerage firm.
Wohlrab’s PAC also brought in thousands of dollars in donations from the lawfirm of Decotiis, Fitzpatrick and Cole, LLC, whose operating partner reportedly served on Governor Phil Murphy’s transition team.
From the Super PAC, Wohlrab paid herself $13,000 according to campaign finance reports.
Wohlrab is running her Democratic ticket this year under the campaign slogan, “Believe in Brick”, a change from the Clean Slate slogan of prior years is up for reelection in November.
She is running with Nicole Sibert and Victoria Pakala.
Despite the Brick School Board being closely aligned with the North Jersey Democratic Political machine, the district is still facing a $1.1 million slash in state financial aid from the administration of Governor Phil Murphy.
