Committee voted to take a look at whether Mayor Brian Stack, who also serves as a state Senator, used a legislative aide in an official capacity for the city, where he is not employed
Union City Mayor and state Sen. Brian Stack is shown in this file photo. A legislative committee today has voted to take a look at whether Stack used a legislative aide as a spokesman for Union City, even though the aide is not employed by the city.TRENTON — A committee that oversees ethics in the Legislature has voted to take a look at whether state Sen. Brian Stack improperly used a legislative aide as a spokesman for Union City, where he is also mayor.
Mark Albiez, who is a paid legislative aide to both Stack (D-Hudson) and Assemblyman Ruben Ramos (D-Hudson), has been quoted in the press as a spokesman for Union City. But Albiez is not employed by the city.
Nancy Erika Smith, a member of the Joint Legislative Commission on Ethical Standards, said Albiez makes $75,000 between his two legislative jobs.
“It could appear that this assistant, while collecting state pay, is also performing another job,” she said. “And he’s collecting two state pays. He’s collecting from the Assembly and Senate … That might be nights and weekends, and that might bet he way it is, but it’s a little disturbing.”
The committee voted 7-0 to “take jurisdiction” over the complaint, which means they will hold a future hearing on it.
The complaint was filed by Joseph Blaettler, a private investigator and Stack critic. Blaettler alleges that tax dollars are being used to pay Albiez to serve as Union City’s spokesman.
“Why are state tax dollars being used to pay Mr. Albiez to serve as a spokesperson for the city of Union City?” Blaettler wrote in the complaint. “It appears that Union City is receiving an added benefit; having their spokesperson paid for with state funds earmarked for SEnator Stack in his capacity as a state legislator.”
In a letter to the committee, Stack said Albiez volunteered as the city spokesman and earns the money from his legislative job.
The committee dismissed a second part of the complaint – that Albiez should not have an office in Union City’s City Hall – because it did not have jurisdiction.
Alan Rosenthal, chairman of the commission, voted to take the case on but said he was skeptical of the charges.
“I don’t think there’s much credible evidence here, but I will vote to take jurisdiction,” he said.
Albiez and Stack did not immediately respond to calls seeking comment.
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