Wisniewski's firm was stripped of work after a town determined the firm violated its anti-pay-to-play law.
TRENTON -- State Assemblyman John Wisniewski, a Democratic candidate for New Jersey governor, has come under fire from a rival after a town determined his law firm violated its anti-pay-to-play statute.
Keyport officials notified Wisniewski earlier this month that a $1,000 donation his firm, Wisniewski & Associates LLC, made to the Monmouth County Democratic Party in 2014 ran afoul of a law that bars borough contractors from making political donations.
"At the time, and through today, your firm provided legal services to the borough in violation of the ordinance," Keyport Borough Attorney Joseph Baumann Jr. wrote in the letter to Wisniewski (D-Middlesex).
"Please be advised that you are disqualified from further representation of the borough as of this date," Baumann wrote.
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The letter spurred backlash from rival Phil Murphy, the former Goldman Sachs executive and U.S. ambassador to Germany who's considered to be the early favorite to clinch the Democratic nomination.
"He is nothing more than a Trenton insider who has consistently gamed the system to put more money in his pocket and is emblematic of a culture that cares more about greasing the wheels for insiders than about doing what is right for New Jersey's middle class," said Murphy campaign spokesman Derek Roseman.
Wisniewski's campaign, in response, accused his rival of buying the nomination.
"One inadvertent contribution -- which has been corrected -- does not remotely equate to the millions in Goldman Sachs money being spread throughout New Jersey by Phil Murphy to buy the election," Wisniewski campaign spokesman Robert Becker said.
Politico New Jersey was the first to report the letter to Wisniewski informing him of the violation. The political news website reported the lawmaker's firm was paid $345,997 for work from public entities in 2015.
Wisniewski's campaign said the lawmaker refunded the money when he was made aware of the violation.
Murphy's criticism of Wisniewski over the donation is just the latest jab thrown in the primary election that's seen its share of attacks.
Both men have spent weeks accusing the other of being insiders, political bosses, and hypocrites.
Matt Arco may be reached at marco@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @MatthewArco or on Facebook.
