The Toms River School Board on Tuesday night decided not to award a contract to an auditor who made political campaign donations to several board members despite that auditor having the lowest qualified bid.
According to a report in the Asbury Park Press today, the politically connected firm of Holman, Frenia, Allison out of Toms River submitted a bid $20,000 less than the firm chosen, but the majority of board members chose to award the contract to Livingston based Wiss & Company.
Board Republicans Daniel Leonard, Joe Nardini and Christopher Raimann voted against the contract award to Wiss & Co.
It turns out, the main dissenter, newly elected board member Leonard received a $1,000 campaign donation from a political action committee, NJ Citizens for Conservatism, which Holman donated $2,200 to.
The board voted 6-3 in favor of retaining Wiss & Co., despite Leonard’s objection in favor of his indirect campaign donor. Leonard raise approximately $5,800 during the campaign, with the bulk of his contributions coming from politically connected benefactors.