Committee unanimously approves pay-to-play ban Measure to become effective following the fall campaigns BY DAN NEWMAN Staff Writer MIDDLETOWN - The township has become the latest local municipality to adopt an anti pay-to-play ordinance, and officials say in some respects it's among the strongest in the state. One of the main provisions of the ordinance is a limitation on "wheeling" which will restrict political contributions that are made indirectly through political action committees. The new ordinance states that a Township Committee candidate cannot accept a contribution of more than $500 per election from a county committee of a political party outside of Monmouth County. The maximum amount of money that someone seeking to do business with the township can contribute to a municipal candidate in Middletown is $300. At its Aug. 20 meeting, the committee unanimously approved the ordinance, which will go into effect on Jan. 1. Still, lone Democratic committee member Patrick Short contended that the ordinance should go into effect immediately. Township Attorney Bernard Reilly said it would be tough to change things now, since donations have already been made for this year's campaigns. "I'm in disagreement with Mr. Reilly," said resident Patricia Walsh, who is also running for Assembly in the 13th District this year. "This ordinance should be retroactive to address the donations that have already been made in this campaign." Short made a motion to amend the ordinance to include a section that would prohibit party chairmen from entering into contracts with the township, although it was not carried. Short also disagreed with a section in the ordinance prohibiting liquor license applicants and owners from donating money to the campaigns of candidates or those currently serving on the committee, saying he did not support prohibiting those that currently hold licenses. At least one resident in attendance agreed. "This really is a sad day for Middletown because there is no way you should limit somebody that already has a liquor license," Charles Fallon said. "Why don't you single out those with construction permits?"