The Local Finance Board opened an investigation into Councilwoman Sharon McAuliffe after she was accused of violating ethics rules.
WOODBRIDGE, NJ — The Local Finance Board opened an investigation into Woodbridge Councilwoman Sharon McAuliffe after a complaint was made that she possibly violated local government ethics laws.
The complaint was made by John Vrtaric, chair of the Woodbridge Republican Party, and who also owns a hair salon and beauty supply store in town.
Vrtaric is backing Ken Gardner, running as a Republican this fall against McAuliffe, a Democrat. She asks voters to re-elect her to continue representing Woodbridge’s First Ward, and Gardner is challenging her.
Vrtaric makes two complaints about McAuliffe: The first is that, at multiple Council meetings in the past year, McAuliffe introduced ordinances that could positively affect her business (Knot Just Bagels on Main Street in the heart of Woodbridge’s Special Improvement District), but then abstains from voting on them, citing a conflict of interest.
At the April 22 Woodbridge Council meeting, McAuliffe introduced a motion to give a second and third reading to an application for a long-term tax exemption with Mazza Urban Renewal, LLC. But she then said she had a conflict of interest with the ordinance.
Also, at that same meeting, McAuliffe introduced an ordinance to adopt and send the “Main Street Rehabilitation & Transit Village Plan
Investigation Opened Into Woodbridge Councilwoman After Ethics Complaint Filed
