Edison Election: ​Local Hotel Expenses Raise New Questions About Joshi Campaign Spending

Recent ELEC filings from Mayor Sam Joshi’s campaign show a series of questionable charges at the Courtyard by Marriott in Edison/Woodbridge. The total comes to $337.19 over two days in July 2023, with vague or blank descriptions.

The listed expenses are:

• July 24 – $71.61 labeled “Food”
• July 24 – $204.52 with no description
• July 25 – $61.06 with no description

Campaigns sometimes pay for lodging when traveling to events or conferences, but the location and timing of these transactions raise serious questions. The Courtyard Edison/Woodbridge is only a few miles from Town Hall and from the mayor’s own home. There is no clear reason why the campaign would need hotel rooms in its own town, and the filings provide no explanation.

Under New Jersey election law, campaign funds may only be used for expenses that are “reasonably related to the conduct of an election campaign.” Overnight stays within the same municipality, restaurant tabs, and unitemized hotel charges should be clearly documented if they are legitimate campaign expenses.

The lack of detail is concerning, especially because other entries in the same report include full descriptions. That suggests the campaign knew how to classify ordinary expenses correctly but chose not to do so in this case.

Transparency advocates say vague filings weaken public trust in local government. When residents already have concerns about rising debt, insider contracts, and questionable spending, unclear campaign reports add to the frustration.

If these hotel stays were legitimate campaign events, the campaign should explain them. If not, they may reflect a pattern of careless or inappropriate spending that voters deserve to understand.

At a time when every contribution matters and every dollar is meant to advance the campaign’s message, residents are asking a simple question: Why was the mayor’s campaign paying for hotel stays just down the street?