We are publishing a follow up to our “Money Tree” article that was posted in September.  After getting the NJ Election Law Enforcement and Contribution Documents for the Brick Township PACs and Teams running in the Election this November 5th something became glaringly clear after reviewing over 80 pages of documents. There is a curious connection to some Businesses that have received contracts and business from the Township and their donations to Brick Township Democratic PACs and Teams. In addition some expenses that indicate the possible use of a burner phone.

 The Democratic PAC for Brick Township is Brick Progress. Brick Progress is managed by Kathy Russell as the Chairperson and Treasurer, Emily Seim, wife of Brick Democratic Campaign Consultant and Political Advisor Mitch Seim of ClearEdge Political Consulting LLC and referred to as the “Master of the Universe” by Ocean County Democratic Club according to a FB Post they made.

CME Engineering who has received over $1M in Brick Township Business in a year and most recently donated to purchase a $5,000 Christmas Tree for the Township has had all 5 of their Partners make $1,000 Contributions to Brick Progress which helps fund the current Democratic ticket running in Brick Township – Ducey Team for Brick 2019 – Zapcic, Halloran, Crate & Minichino:

$5,000 total in contributions made on 6/21/19 by CME Partners: Jay Cornell, Michael McClelland, David Samuel, John Stefani and Gregory Valesi

Another Christmas Tree Donator who curiously also made a contribution to this PAC and receives substantial business from the Township is:

ARH Engineering – $3,800 – 7/1/19 and 10/23/19

Brick Progress has made a total of $50,800 in contributions to the 4 Democratic Candidates running for Council – Zapcic ($13,200), Halloran ($12,200), Crate ($13,200) and Minichino ($12,200)

The Committee for these candidates is: Ducey Team for Brick 2019 – Zapcic, Halloran, Crate & Minichino

In reviewing their ELEC forms there are several very curious expenses listed:

7/3, 8/6,9/12 – Payments Made to ClearEdge totaling $15,000 (ClearEdge is the consulting company owned by Mitch Seim the husband of Emily Seim, Treasurer of Brick Progress)

8/14/19 – Payment made to the Township of Brick – Kids for K9s – $150

8/21/19 – Target – $53.30 – For the purchase of a phone

8/23/19 – Cricket Wireless – $25.00

9/12/19 – Cricket Wireless – $25.00

9/23/19 – Cricket Wireless – $25.00

** Questions to ask yourselves – why are most large donations made by companies that have reaped business from the Township? Why would a burner/prepaid phone even be needed? **