ELEC Files Complaint Against Freeholder Lyon for Alleged 2011 Campaign Violations

The controversy surrounding Freeholder William "Hank" Lyon's 2011 primary election win over predecessor Margaret Nordstrom continues. The state Election Law Enforcement Commission has filed a complaint against the 23-year-old politician charging him with four violations stemming from that time, the Star-Ledger reported, adding that the freeholder said he will to work to come to a settlement with the commission.

Superior Court Assignment Judge Thomas Weisenbeck had overturned Lyon's four-vote win over Nordstrom in that primary because of a late $16,000 loan to the Lyon campaign made by the candidate's father one week before the election, but not reported until after. An appeals court negated Weisenbeck's ruling, putting Lyon onto the freeholder board.

ELEC's complaint says the Lyon campaign broke the law four times, including when Robert Lyon, his son's campaign treasurer, did not report the contribution within 48 hours, as the law says must happen for amounts greater than $1,200. Additionally, the article said ELEC charges the Lyons certified the information in its report was correct, but then on Sept. 16, 2011, changed the name of the contributor of the $16,000 from Robert Lyon to Hank Lyon. The freeholder Lyon now has the option of appealing the complaint before a state administrative law judge, or negotiating a settlement, a route Lyon indicated he will take.