Democrat Betsy Aumack, Piscataway Ward 2 Council Candidate, Files Ethics Complaint Against Incumbent,
Dennis Espinosa for possible electioneering and misuse of taxpayer funds.

Asks for investigation into letter sent by Espinosa on official Township Letterhead, at Taxpayer expense; Filing raises concerns about public access to Local Ethics Board

Piscataway, NJ – Today, Ward 2 progressive Democratic candidate Elizabeth “Betsy” Aumack filed an Ethics Complaint and request for an investigation by the Township Ethics Board into a letter that was sent on official Township letterhead, apparently at taxpayer expense, that could be construed as electioneering and an inappropriate use of taxpayer funds. In her complaint, Aumack wrote:

“On January 5, 2026, Councilmember Dennis Espinosa mailed a letter on Township letterhead regarding so-called “pop-up parties,” referencing a newly adopted ordinance purporting to address the issue. While the subject matter may be of public interest, the letter's content and framing go beyond neutral constituent communication. Specifically, the letter identifies the individual council members who voted against the ordinance.” [Progressive Council Members Laura Leibowitz and Sarah Rashid voted against the ordinance, citing potential problems with implementation and First Amendment concerns].

“As this communication was disseminated through official township channels and resources during an active election year, it may constitute political advocacy or campaigning at public expense. Public resources should be used solely for official governmental purposes, not for political messaging or electoral advantage. The inclusion of named political opponents and statement of their positions, suggests a possible blurring of this important boundary.”

Aumack said it was not an easy process to send the complaint, as the Township’s Local Ethics Board does not meet publicly and there is no direct way for taxpayers or businesses to reach the members. Piscataway Township officials have long used a loophole in the state’s ethics law that allows a community to adopt its own Ethics Board. The Mayor appoints the members and the Council approves them. Aumack said this allows local officials to avoid additional oversight by the State.

““The corruption tax is real here and we can help stop it, by ending misuse of public resources. I look forward to a full explanation of this letter,” she said. “Piscataway deserves an independent ethics board and an explanation of what our local leaders are doing with our taxes.

“The fox should not be guarding the hen house, which is what seems to be happening here,” Aumack continued. “The same people who might be subject to an investigation should not be involved in appointing or approving the members of the Board who are doing the investigating. And it is hard to know what they might do, since they do not meet in public and residents have no way to reach the Board members directly. This entire episode - from who gets to send letters on Township letterhead at taxpayer expense to how we get answers about our elected officials’ behavior - needs to be thoroughly investigated and any wrong doing must be addressed.”

Aumack said she sent the letter to the Municipal Clerk and asked for confirmation that it had been sent to all the members. She also filed an Open Public Records Act request to see who received the letter, how much it cost to produce and mail and who authorized it. It is unclear, she said, whether other Council Members, who are also running for re-election in the June 2 Primary, sent similar letters. Aumack, a long time Ward 2 resident, did not receive the letter herself and learned about it from her neighbors.

A lawyer and former Fire Commissioner, Aumack is running with a full slate of progressive Democrats in the June 2 Democratic Primary, including Shantell Cherry in Ward 1, Viola Stone in Ward 3, and Rashaad Couloote in Ward 4. The ticket, running under the “Democrats Putting Piscataway Working Families First” includes support for an independent ethics board as part of their platform for change.

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