Politics & Government

Reid's Current Employment Status Not A Conflict In Lacey Township Committee Race

Reid is the full-time Berkeley Township administrator and part-time Lacey public defender

Can Christopher Reid serve two masters?

The answer is yes, for now.

Reid - who was recently appointed as the full-time Berkeley administrator - also currently serves as Lacey Township's public defender.

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But if he is elected to the Lacey Township Committee in November, he will have to resign as Lacey's public defender before he takes his seat in January, both Lacey Township Administrator Veronica Laureigh and Township Attorney Lauren R. Staiger said.

"As far as I know, there is no conflict of interest," Laureigh said. "If he is elected in November, come January he could not be appointed as public defender."

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Berkeley Council members unanimously agreed to hire Reid, 44, at a salary of $120,000 a year in early April. He will not receive any benefits, Berkeley Mayor Carmen F. Amato Jr. has said.

Reid, a Republican, recently filed a petition to run for an open seat on the Lacey Township Committee.

A spokesman for the state Election Law Enforcement Commission referred any questions about possible conflicts to Lacey Township.

"It's not something we oversee," the spokesman said. "You'll have to check with the township."

The Township Committee recently amended Reid's contract to add his associate, Colleen Dolcy.

"He has a pretty heavy schedule," Laureigh said.

Reid could not be reached by phone or e-mail for comment for this story.

Next week's primary features a contested race among the Republican candidates. Reid and running mate Peter Curatolo are backed by the Lacey Republican Club and county party organization.

They are being challenged by Republican Gregory Pancza, who is running on the slogan "The Time for Change is Now.”

Democratic incumbent Helen DelaCruz and Gary Vaccaro are running unopposed in the primary. Incumbent Sean Sharkey decided not to run for another term.


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