NEW JERSEY ELECTION LAW ENFORCEMENT COMMISSION

P.O. Box 185

Trenton, New Jersey 08625-0185

NEW JERSEY ELECTION LAW FINAL DECISION

ENFORCEMENT COMMISSION,

Complainant,

v.
C-B 1507 06 04-E2015
JOHN LAMELA, C-B 1507 09 04-E2015
VICTORIA PAKALA,
C-B 1507 08 04-E2015
STEPHANIE WOHLRAB,
and C-B 1507 07 04-E2015
GEORGE WHITE,
Candidates for School Board,
Brick Township,
Ocean County,

and
JOSEPH NEZGODA
Treasurer,

Respondents.

PLEASE TAKE NOTICE that the New Jersey Election Law Enforcement Commission
(Commission) considered at its meeting of June 16, 2020, the Complaint against Respondents John Lamela,
Victoria Pakala, Stephanie Wohlrab and George White (Respondent Candidates), and Respondent Joseph
Nezgoda (Respondent Treasurer), for late filing of Joint Candidates Committee – Certificate of
Organization and Designation of Campaign Treasurer and Depository (Form D-2), late filing of Single
Candidate Committee – Certificates of Organization and Designation of Campaign Treasurer and
Depository (Forms D-1), and late reporting and failure to report contributions in excess of $300.00 during
the 2015 general election, in the above-captioned case, issued on June 26, 2019, pursuant to N.J.S.A.
19:44A-1 et seq., which Complaint is hereby incorporated by reference in this Final Decision. The
Commission considered each Respondent’s Affidavit and Waiver of Hearing submitted in response to the
Complaint, and by a vote of 3-0, adopted as its Final Decision the Proposed Findings of Fact and
Conclusions of Law set forth in the Complaint, and as modified below.

The Commission finds on Count Three that Respondent Candidates and Respondent Treasurer filed
a Supplemental Contributor Information Form (Form C-1) on July 15, 2019, for the Joint Candidates
Committee “Clean Slate for Brick BOE”, reporting information for five contributions received in excess of
$300.00, totaling $4157.80, during the 2015 general election (1330 days late).

The Commission finds on Count Four that the $750.00 deposited into the Lamela campaign account
was multiple contributions of $300.00 or less, not a single contribution of $750.00.

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 The Commission finds on Count Five that the $750.00 deposited into the Pakala campaign account
was multiple contributions of $300.00 or less, not a single contribution of $750.00.

The Commission finds on Count Six that the $750.00 deposited into the Wohlrab campaign account
was multiple contributions of $300.00 or less, not a single contribution of $750.00.

The Commission finds on Count Seven that the $750.00 deposited into the White campaign account
was multiple contributions of $300.00 or less, not a single contribution of $750.00.

THEREFORE, the Commission hereby DISMISSES the allegations in Counts Four through Seven
for failure to report contributions in excess of $300.00.

PENALTY

THEREFORE, pursuant to N.J.S.A. 19:44A-22 and N.J.A.C. 19:25-17.1 et seq., the Commission
hereby REPRIMANDS Respondents and imposes penalties as follows:

a) For late filing of Form D-2, the Commission imposes a joint penalty of $300.00 upon
Respondent Candidates (Count One);

b) For late reporting of 11 contributions in excess of $300.00, totaling $10,557.80, the

Commission imposes a joint penalty of $1055.78 upon Respondent Candidates and Respondent
Treasurer (Counts Two and Three);

c) For late filing of Form D-1, the Commission imposes a penalty of $300.00 upon Respondent
Lamela (Count Four);

d) For late filing of Form D-1, the Commission imposes a penalty of $300.00 upon Respondent
Pakala (Count Five);

e) For late filing of Form D-1, the Commission imposes a penalty of $300.00 upon Respondent
Wohlrab (Count Six);

f) For late filing of Form D-1, the Commission imposes a penalty of $300.00 upon Respondent
White (Count Seven).

And the Commission having considered mitigating circumstances pursuant to N.J.A.C. 19:25-
17.3C(e), including the fact that Respondent Candidates did not receive reminder notices of their filing
obligations as candidates for school board during the 2015 general election, hereby reduces the joint penalty
against Respondent Candidates to $180.00, reduces the joint penalty against Respondent Candidates and
Respondent Treasurer to $633.47, reduces the penalty against Respondent Lamela to $180.00, reduces the
penalty upon Respondent Pakala to $180.00, reduces the penalty against Respondent Wohlrab to $180.00,
and reduces the penalty against Respondent White to $180.00.

And the Commission having received full payment prior to Final Decision action, hereby reduces
the joint penalty against Respondent Candidates to $144.00, reduces the joint penalty against Respondent
Candidates and Respondent Treasurer to $506.78, reduces the penalty against Respondent Lamela to
$144.00, reduces the penalty upon Respondent Pakala to $144.00, reduces the penalty against Respondent
Wohlrab to $144.00, and reduces the penalty against Respondent White to $144.00.

Respondents have submitted payment in full. No further payment is required.

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 NEW JERSEY ELECTION LAW
ENFORCEMENT COMMISSION

Date of Mailing: June 24, 2020 BY: _______________________________

ERIC H. JASO
Chairman

FIRST CLASS MAIL