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Residents challenge commissioners over campaign mailers and political donations; county leaders say they did not authorize attack ads
Summary
Several public commenters accused county leaders of donating to political committees whose mailers attacked women of color candidates. Commissioners said they had not prepared or authorized the mailers and denied knowledge of specific pieces cited by residents.
Multiple residents told the commissioners they were troubled by political mailers circulating in Camden and by donations from PACs and political committees. A Collingswood resident identified in the record as Delaney criticized donations to the Camden City Democratic Committee and related PAC activity that, she said, targeted women of color running for local office.
Delaney asked commissioners to explain donations and to stop supporting organizations that produce "dishonest mailers." Gary Frazier and other speakers raised similar concerns, describing repeated campaign attacks on women of color and calling for accountability and impartial elections.
Director Joseph Cappelli responded in the meeting record, saying in part: "I never saw the mailer. I never sold the mailer. I don't know who's responsible. I've never even seen it." He told speakers that donating to a committee does not necessarily mean a donor tracks every expenditure.
Speakers called for the county party and elected leaders to stop funding organizations that run negative mail pieces and urged commissioners to ensure fair and impartial elections. No county action on campaign finance or PAC activity was taken at the meeting; the exchange occurred during the public-comment period.
