Candidate Accuses Congressman Of Electioneering

Andy Kim during his election day appearance at Greenbriar Clubhouse. (Photo courtesy Congressman Kim's Office)

  BRICK – A candidate who suffered a loss in the election has accused a local congressman of swaying voters at a polling place.

  Councilman James Fozman told media outlets that Congressman Andy Kim (D-3rd) was electioneering at the Greenbriar Clubhouse, which was a voting location. Fozman accused him of impacting the election.

  When asked for comment to elaborate on these claims, Fozman said he did not have a comment until the complaints filed with the Board of Elections are addressed.

  Anthony DeAngelo, a spokesman for Kim, said that Fozman’s claims are without merit.

  “We were invited by the folks at Greenbriar back in March to speak to residents about the costs of healthcare,” DeAngelo said. “(The talk) was about lowering the costs of prescription drugs.”

  The talk was in a separate room from where the voting booths were, he said.

  During the event, Kim did not talk about any campaign and did not endorse anyone, he said. There were no local candidates in the room as far as they knew.

  Fozman claimed Kim violated Titles 19:34-6 and 19:34-15, but did not explain specifically what was violated.

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  Title 19:34-6  is: “If a person shall on election day tamper, deface or interfere with any polling booth or obstruct the entrance to any polling place, or obstruct or interfere with any voter, or loiter in or near the polling place, or, with the purpose to obstruct or interfere with any voter or to unduly delay other voters from voting, spend an inordinate amount of time in the polling booth, or do any electioneering within any polling place or within one hundred feet thereof, he shall be guilty of a crime of the third degree.”

  Title 19:34-15 is: “If a person shall distribute or display any circular or printed matter or offer any suggestion or solicit any support for any candidate, party or public question within the polling place or room or within a distance of one hundred feet of the outside entrance to such polling place or room, he shall be guilty of a disorderly persons offense.”

  The Office of the Attorney General stated that they will not comment.

  The Ocean County Board of Elections did not return a call for comment.