New Jersey's Attorney General's Office is investigating the awarding of a no-bid contract for Superstorm Sandy cleanup to a company with ties to the wife of Belmar's mayor.
A Republican member of the town council questions whether Democratic Mayor Michael Doherty violated state ethics laws. The state Community Affairs Department sent the complaint to the Statewide Sandy Fraud Working Group.
Doherty's wife, Maggie Moran, helped market Florida-based AshBritt Inc. to government officials after the storm. AshBritt hired a construction company that hired Moran to develop a marketing campaign.
AshBritt has been criticized for charging more than other companies.
Doherty tells the Asbury Park Press he recused himself from any votes involving AshBritt and its subcontractors. The mayor calls the allegation politically motivated.
“It’s a completely baseless allegation by Councilman Jim Bean,” Doherty said, according to the paper.
Bean, is the sole Republican on Belmar's council.
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“Ultimately, this will show itself to be a waste of time and money for taxpayers because it’s purely political,” Doherty said.
