Legal Corruption Is Fueling Sam Joshi’s Campaign

Mayor Sam Joshi’s campaign is being powered by a political machine that rewards friends, drains taxpayer money, and shuts residents out of the process. It may be legal, but it is not right.

Here is how the cycle works. Political friends and county power players raise big money for campaigns. In return, their law firms and businesses receive expensive contracts paid for by Edison taxpayers. Those same firms then give more money back into politics. It is a closed loop that benefits insiders again and again, while residents are left paying for it.

A recent investigation showed that Rainone Coughlin Minchello, the politically connected law firm Joshi’s administration relies on, billed Edison nearly $750,000 last year. At the same time, their attorneys donated more than $210,000 to county political leaders who supported Joshi’s campaign. ELEC records also show that firm partners each personally donated $5,000 to Joshi’s joint campaign committee, making them some of his largest individual donors. Their legal work has been tied to conflicts of interest and costly mistakes, yet their contracts keep coming. This is not good government. This is how a political machine protects itself.

Costly Legal Problems

Joshi has dragged Edison into multiple legal controversies, including some stemming from his own personal actions.:

• Silver Lake sanctions (2025): A Superior Court judge sanctioned Edison nearly $2,000 after Mayor Joshi admitted he had only “skimmed” case documents. Council members said RCM failed to prepare the mayor, forcing taxpayers to pay the fine and extra legal fees.
• Conflict of interest (2024): A developer sued Edison and moved to disqualify an RCM attorney, alleging the attorney had previously represented the developer and had access to confidential strategies. The case is still pending.
• Flag ban controversy (2024): RCM attorney Michael Burns advised the Council that ejecting a resident carrying a small American flag was legally proper. The move sparked national outrage, and the Council reversed itself weeks later.
• Protective order motion (2025): RCM filed to block the release of Mayor Joshi’s deposition in the Glendale case, where he admitted he had not read key documents. Critics said the motion aimed to shield damaging testimony at taxpayer expense.

Intimidation and Outsiders Campaign Tactics

On top of that, Joshi’s campaign is paying teenagers and young adults from outside Edison to knock on doors here. Instead of empowering residents, the campaign is importing people to deliver a top-down political message. It feels less like a local election and more like a business deal. Joshi’s campaign has also used aggressive sign tactics across town. His team has put up signs on private property without asking permission, torn down our signs, and intimidated residents who support our campaign. These are the kinds of tactics that treat people like political commodities instead of neighbors. It replaces trust with fear and frustration, and it shows just how far the current administration is willing to go to cling to power.

Time For Change

This is why so many people feel like their voices do not matter. The system is designed to keep power in the same hands and to keep residents out of the conversation. Meanwhile, businesses are choosing nearby towns like Union County because Edison has become too expensive and too complicated. We should be supporting families and attracting investment, not driving opportunity away.

I am running for mayor because Edison deserves better. We need leadership that puts residents first, not political machines. This election is about whether we want to keep rewarding insiders or build a future where government serves the people who live here. I believe Edison is ready for that change.

David Tingle is the independent candidate for Mayor of Edison.
Contact: www.tingleformayor.com • 908-227-7957 • dave@tingleformayor.com