West Amwell's election has become a hotly contested race after the Democrats raised close to $45,000
WEST AMWELL -- In a rural town where municipal elections generally draw little attention, West Amwell's Democratic slate has far exceeded their opponents' fundraising, bringing in close to $45,000, with much of it coming from labor unions.
The influx of donations has prompted the Republicans to accuse the Democrats of buying the election and having the backing of unions that support construction of the controversial PennEast pipeline -- claims the group adamantly refutes.
There are three seats up for grabs after residents last year approved expanding the township committee from three members to five.
Democrats William Corboy, Eric Richard and Michael Heron are running against Republicans Gary Hoyer, Zach Rich and Jim Cally.
Richard says the Republicans are inventing an issue over campaign contributions to divert attention away from issues they have raised about the incumbents' increased spending and taxes.
"A full slate running an aggressive campaign makes them nervous," he said. "They are upset that Democrats even have the gall to try to run against them."
He said in a township that is 2-to-1 Republican, the Democrats immediately started at a disadvantage and needed money to have any chance at winning. In fact, the Republicans have only had one year with a contested race since 2009.
"Unless you have resources to communicate with people, you're not going to win," Richard said. "If you want to run a campaign, money is a necessary evil."
The latest campaign finance records show that the Democrats have raised $44,855 in the primary and general election campaigns.
Candidates are required to report only contributions above $300, but of the $35,850 in contributions they disclosed, all but $1,000 came from labor unions -- which tend to overwhelmingly support Democratic candidates and causes at all levels of government.
About 44 percent of that money, or $16,000, came from the United Association of Plumbers and Pipefitters Local 9. Another $6,000 came from Sheet Metal Workers Local 25. Other smaller donations came from unions representing steelworkers, firefighters, electricians, painters, transit workers, health professionals and other public and private sector employees.
By contrast, the Republicans had three contributions above $300 totaling $3,000.
Richard said that as part of his job as a legislative affairs coordinator for New Jersey State AFL-CIO, he works with labor leaders on a daily basis and those that contributed to his campaign did so because they want to see him succeed.
"Every single one of them, I know personally," he said. "If there's some sort of issue about me being pro-labor, that's who I am. It's something that I wear as a badge of honor that those type of folks support me."
Both campaigns oppose the PennEast pipeline -- arguably the biggest threat facing West Amwell -- but the donations from unions don't sit well with the Republicans who say they are the very same people who support the pipeline because it would create jobs.
Rich, the incumbent mayor, said union members give money to a candidate they believe will fight for their causes.
"AFL-CIO believes through and through they need the pipeline because it creates jobs for their labor force," he said. "So when sheet metal workers and pipefitters give money, they're not giving money because they like Eric. They're giving money because they believe he'll fight for what they believe in."
Richard countered, saying that accepting a donation from a union doesn't mean he has to see eye-to-eye with them on every issue, the pipeline being chief among them.
He said he lives a half-mile away from the proposed route and has adamantly opposed the project since Day 1.
"This is a personal issue for me and the fact that they think I would take a single contribution from someone who would impact the safety and health of my family is completely absurd," he said.
Richard explained that there are five unions that are signatories to the pipeline that would receive all of the work if it were to proceed and he has refused to accept a single penny from them.
He said the business manager of UA Local 9, his campaign's largest contributor, has been a close friend of his for more than a decade.
"Even though he might be supportive, he gets no benefit from it whatsoever," Richard said, adding that Local 274, not Local 9, would have jurisdiction over the PennEast project.
Richard accused the Republicans of trying to distract voters from the real issues.
But Rich defended his record on the township committee, saying that he has kept the cost of government low even as costs for salaries, benefits and supplies continue to rise.
Cristina Rojas may be reached at crojas@njadvancemedia.com. Follow her on Twitter @CristinaRojasTT. Find NJ.com on Facebook.