Report: County Exec Spent $15k On Meals

A report filed with a state election commission reveals Essex County Executive Joseph N. DiVincenzo Jr. has used money in his campaign coffers to cover $15,222 worth of meals at 30 different restaurants — all labeled as campaign meetings, according to a published report Tuesday.

DiVincenzo, who is not up for re-election until 2014, has dined at several pricey area restaurants — including 36 times at McLoone’s Boathouse in West Orange, according to the report filed with the state Election Law Enforcement Commission and posted on NJ.com.

The filing reveals DiVincenzo has spent more than $17,000 at the restaurant — including $10,000 for a holiday party he hosted there.

ELEC rules prohibit the use of campaign funds for personal use. The rules allow a candidate to meet a donor in the restaurant and expense the meal, but a candidate cannot buy groceries for home using election funds.

Current law says campaign money can be used for the "ordinary and necessary expenses of holding public office," but ELEC Deputy Director Joseph Donohue said, "There are no specific guidelines," according to the NJ.com report.