TRENTON – Last week, Sen. Barbara Buono (D-Middlesex) vowed to intervene legislatively to block an Edison special election on a $57.8 million bond issue because the Sept. 30 date for the vote falls on Rosh Hashanah, the Jewish New Year.
“It would be unconscionable for anyone to push ahead with the bond vote once they realized it would fall on Rosh Hashanah,” said Buono, who represents Edison.
The Democratic lawmaker said she would seek emergency legislative approval of a bill she is drafting to authorize the state to change the four possible dates for special school board elections if it is discovered they fall on religious holidays.
“I called Governor Corzine and he agreed to meet with Jewish leaders from the Edison area to realize the extent of their concerns about this use of the electoral process,” said Buono.
Next, she said she would seek authorization from Senate President Richard J. Codey to call the Senate into session to pass the bill in time to block the Sept. 30 election.
“I am confident the leaders of both the Senate and the Assembly will do whatever is necessary to expedite passage of this legislation,” said Buono, chair of the Senate Budget & Appropriations Committee.
Though there is no date for the Senate to return for a voting session, Buono said she would seek permission for special legislative action.
