Fourth Legislative District, August 15, 2023 – Responding to a NJ Monitor report from last week, Republican State Senate challenger Chris Del Borrello and his Assembly running mates Matt Walker and Amanda Esposito today slammed Camden County Democrats for blocking final confirmation for State Comptroller Kevin Walsh, in what they allege is an attempt to shield their political boss, George Norcross, from further investigation.

The trio also backed the idea of directly electing a State Comptroller as a way to undermine the power of political bosses like Norcross and weak elected officials who he currently orders around, like Paul Moriarty.

The Republicans challenged their opponents – Assemblyman Paul Moriarty, Gloucester Township Councilman Dan Hutchison and Monroe Board of Education member Cody Miller – to publicly call on Camden County’s two current Democratic Senators, Jim Beach and Nilsa Cruz-Perez – to allow Walsh’s appointment to proceed.

“A vote for Moriarty, Hutchison and Miller is a vote to keep George Norcross in charge of South Jersey so he can continue profiting at taxpayer expense and intimidating anyone who has the courage to challenge him,” said Del Borrello.  “So-called representatives like Senator Beach, Senator Cruz-Perez, and Assemblyman Moriarty should be ashamed of themselves. The Acting State Comptroller reported that Pennsauken schools squandered $1.6 million by buying insurance from Norcross’ firm and he agreed with previous reports that the state’s tax credit program lined Norcross’s pockets.  Because of that, Camden Democrats are blocking him to shield their political boss from more scrutiny.  That’s not how government is supposed to work.”

Del Borrello said it’s no different from what he witnessed as a Washington Township Councilman, where Norcross allies used the local Municipal Utilities Authority as a patronage pit until he pushed for and delivered reforms.

“It’s no wonder that South Jersey taxpayers have so little faith in government,” said Esposito, a Pitman High School teacher.  “Our opponents aren’t interested in serving the public, they are only concerned about serving their political master.  George Norcross advances their careers and funds their campaign, and they give him total loyalty in return.  That’s a raw deal for taxpayers.”

Matt Walker, a former Buena Borough Councilman, said he would support legislation sponsored by Assemblyman Benjamin Wimberly (D-35) that would amend the NJ Constitution to directly elect a State Comptroller.  “Electing a State Comptroller would help shift the balance of power away from political bosses like George Norcross, and towards working-class taxpayers,” said Walker.  “As a legislator, I would look forward to working with an elected State Comptroller to hold people accountable, save tax dollars, and expose corruption – wherever it might be found.”