Daniel Van Pelt
Encyclopedia
Daniel Van Pelt is an American
Republican
politician
, who served in the New Jersey
General Assembly
from January 8, 2008, until July 31, 2009, when he resigned after being arrested in connection with Operation Bid Rig
on federal corruption charges for allegedly accepting a $10,000 bribe. He was later convicted and scentenced to 41 months in prison. In the Assembly, he represented the 9th legislative district.
from 1998 until February 2009, most of those years as the township's mayor.
He simultaneously held a seat in the New Jersey General Assembly and as Mayor in 2008. This dual position, often called double dipping, is allowed under a grandfather clause in the state law enacted by the New Jersey Legislature
and signed into law by Governor of New Jersey
Jon Corzine
in September 2007 that prevents dual-office-holding but allows those who had held both positions as of February 1, 2008, to retain both posts.
He was one of 44 individuals arrested on July 23, 2009, as part of Operation Bid Rig
, a joint operation of the FBI
, IRS
, and the United States Attorney for the District of New Jersey
into corruption and money laundering that began with investigations into counterfeit merchandise and international money laundering. Van Pelt was charged with accepting a $10,000 bribe.
Van Pelt had served on the Assembly's Environment and Solid Waste Committee and the Military and Veterans' Affairs Committee. Assembly Speaker Joseph J. Roberts removed him from those positions the day of Van Pelt's arrest.
Van Pelt resigned from the Assembly on July 31, more than a week after his arrest. He maintained his innocence, but said that his "current situation would only serve as a distraction, and I would do a disservice to those who elected me to do a job." Van Pelt also withdrew from his re-election bid.
On August 12, Republican county committee members selected Long Beach Township
Commissioner DiAnne C. Gove to fill the remainder of Van Pelt's term and to take his spot on the ballot. She is not expected to take office until the Assembly returns from recess after the general election on November 3.
Van Pelt was convicted on May 19th, 2010, of accepting a 10,000$ bribe to provide environmental permits for an Ocean Township development project. On Nov. 19th he was sentenced to 41 months in federal prison.
from The College of New Jersey
with a major in Criminal Justice and an M.A.
from Regent University
in Public Policy and Government. He was the Township Administrator of Lumberton Township, New Jersey
, a position that paid $85,000.
The Lumberton Township Committee fired him on July 25, 2009, in the wake of his arrest on federal corruption charges.
and two members in the New Jersey General Assembly
. The other representatives from the 9th District for the 2008-2009 Legislative Session are:
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
Republican
Republican Party (United States)
The Republican Party is one of the two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Democratic Party. Founded by anti-slavery expansion activists in 1854, it is often called the GOP . The party's platform generally reflects American conservatism in the U.S...
politician
Politician
A politician, political leader, or political figure is an individual who is involved in influencing public policy and decision making...
, who served in the New Jersey
New Jersey
New Jersey is a state in the Northeastern and Middle Atlantic regions of the United States. , its population was 8,791,894. It is bordered on the north and east by the state of New York, on the southeast and south by the Atlantic Ocean, on the west by Pennsylvania and on the southwest by Delaware...
General Assembly
New Jersey General Assembly
The New Jersey General Assembly is the lower house of the New Jersey Legislature.Since the election of 1967 , the Assembly has consisted of 80 members. Two members are elected from each of New Jersey's 40 legislative districts for a term of two years, each representing districts with average...
from January 8, 2008, until July 31, 2009, when he resigned after being arrested in connection with Operation Bid Rig
Operation Bid Rig
Operation Bid Rig is an ongoing, long-term investigation into political corruption in New Jersey conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Internal Revenue Service, and the United States Attorney for the District of New Jersey since 2002...
on federal corruption charges for allegedly accepting a $10,000 bribe. He was later convicted and scentenced to 41 months in prison. In the Assembly, he represented the 9th legislative district.
Government service
Van Pelt served on the governing body of Ocean TownshipOcean Township, Ocean County, New Jersey
-Demographics:As of the census of 2000, there were 6,450 people, 2,446 households, and 1,743 families residing in the township. The population density was 310.1 people per square mile . There were 2,981 housing units at an average density of 143.3 per square mile...
from 1998 until February 2009, most of those years as the township's mayor.
He simultaneously held a seat in the New Jersey General Assembly and as Mayor in 2008. This dual position, often called double dipping, is allowed under a grandfather clause in the state law enacted by the New Jersey Legislature
New Jersey Legislature
The New Jersey Legislature is the legislative branch of the government of the U.S. state of New Jersey. In its current form, as defined by the New Jersey Constitution of 1947, the Legislature consists of two houses: the General Assembly and the Senate...
and signed into law by Governor of New Jersey
Governor of New Jersey
The Office of the Governor of New Jersey is the executive branch for the U.S. state of New Jersey. The office of Governor is an elected position, for which elected officials serve four year terms. While individual politicians may serve as many terms as they can be elected to, Governors cannot be...
Jon Corzine
Jon Corzine
Jon Stevens Corzine is the former CEO of Goldman Sachs and of MF Global, and a one time American politician, who served as the 54th Governor of New Jersey from 2006 to 2010. A Democrat, Corzine served five years of a six-year U.S. Senate term representing New Jersey before being elected Governor...
in September 2007 that prevents dual-office-holding but allows those who had held both positions as of February 1, 2008, to retain both posts.
He was one of 44 individuals arrested on July 23, 2009, as part of Operation Bid Rig
Operation Bid Rig
Operation Bid Rig is an ongoing, long-term investigation into political corruption in New Jersey conducted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Internal Revenue Service, and the United States Attorney for the District of New Jersey since 2002...
, a joint operation of the FBI
Federal Bureau of Investigation
The Federal Bureau of Investigation is an agency of the United States Department of Justice that serves as both a federal criminal investigative body and an internal intelligence agency . The FBI has investigative jurisdiction over violations of more than 200 categories of federal crime...
, IRS
Internal Revenue Service
The Internal Revenue Service is the revenue service of the United States federal government. The agency is a bureau of the Department of the Treasury, and is under the immediate direction of the Commissioner of Internal Revenue...
, and the United States Attorney for the District of New Jersey
United States Attorney for the District of New Jersey
The U.S. Attorney for the District of New Jersey is the chief federal law enforcement officer in New Jersey. Paul J. Fishman was sworn into office as U.S. Attorney on October 14, 2009 after having been nominated by President Barack Obama. He succeeded Ralph J. Marra, who served as Acting U.S....
into corruption and money laundering that began with investigations into counterfeit merchandise and international money laundering. Van Pelt was charged with accepting a $10,000 bribe.
Van Pelt had served on the Assembly's Environment and Solid Waste Committee and the Military and Veterans' Affairs Committee. Assembly Speaker Joseph J. Roberts removed him from those positions the day of Van Pelt's arrest.
Van Pelt resigned from the Assembly on July 31, more than a week after his arrest. He maintained his innocence, but said that his "current situation would only serve as a distraction, and I would do a disservice to those who elected me to do a job." Van Pelt also withdrew from his re-election bid.
On August 12, Republican county committee members selected Long Beach Township
Long Beach Township, New Jersey
Long Beach Township is a Walsh Act Township in Ocean County, New Jersey, United States. As of the United States 2010 Census, the township population was 3,051....
Commissioner DiAnne C. Gove to fill the remainder of Van Pelt's term and to take his spot on the ballot. She is not expected to take office until the Assembly returns from recess after the general election on November 3.
Van Pelt was convicted on May 19th, 2010, of accepting a 10,000$ bribe to provide environmental permits for an Ocean Township development project. On Nov. 19th he was sentenced to 41 months in federal prison.
Education and career
Van Pelt attended Toms River High School East and received a B.S.Bachelor of Science
A Bachelor of Science is an undergraduate academic degree awarded for completed courses that generally last three to five years .-Australia:In Australia, the BSc is a 3 year degree, offered from 1st year on...
from The College of New Jersey
The College of New Jersey
The College of New Jersey, abbreviated TCNJ, is a public, coeducational university located in Ewing Township, New Jersey, a suburb of Trenton....
with a major in Criminal Justice and an M.A.
Master of Arts (postgraduate)
A Master of Arts from the Latin Magister Artium, is a type of Master's degree awarded by universities in many countries. The M.A. is usually contrasted with the M.S. or M.Sc. degrees...
from Regent University
Regent University
Regent University is a private coeducational interdenominational Christian university located in Virginia Beach, Virginia, United States. The school was founded by the American televangelist Pat Robertson in 1978 as Christian Broadcasting Network University. A satellite campus located in...
in Public Policy and Government. He was the Township Administrator of Lumberton Township, New Jersey
Lumberton Township, New Jersey
Lumberton Township is a Township in Burlington County, New Jersey, United States. As of the 2000 United States Census, the township population was 10,461....
, a position that paid $85,000.
The Lumberton Township Committee fired him on July 25, 2009, in the wake of his arrest on federal corruption charges.
District 9
Each of the forty districts in the New Jersey Legislature has one representative in the New Jersey SenateNew Jersey Senate
The New Jersey Senate was established as the upper house of the New Jersey Legislature by the Constitution of 1844, replacing the Legislative Council. From 1844 until 1965 New Jersey's counties elected one Senator, each. Under the 1844 Constitution the term of office was three years. The 1947...
and two members in the New Jersey General Assembly
New Jersey General Assembly
The New Jersey General Assembly is the lower house of the New Jersey Legislature.Since the election of 1967 , the Assembly has consisted of 80 members. Two members are elected from each of New Jersey's 40 legislative districts for a term of two years, each representing districts with average...
. The other representatives from the 9th District for the 2008-2009 Legislative Session are:
- Senator Christopher J. ConnorsChristopher J. ConnorsChristopher J. Connors is an American Republican party politician, who has served in the New Jersey Senate since January 8, 2008, where he currently represents the 9th legislative district...
, and - Assemblyman Brian E. RumpfBrian E. RumpfBrian E. Rumpf is an American Republican politician, who has served in the New Jersey General Assembly since 2003, where he represents the 9th legislative district.-Biography:He was born in Somerville, New Jersey on May 11, 1964....
External links
- Assemblyman Van Pelt's legislative web page, New Jersey LegislatureNew Jersey LegislatureThe New Jersey Legislature is the legislative branch of the government of the U.S. state of New Jersey. In its current form, as defined by the New Jersey Constitution of 1947, the Legislature consists of two houses: the General Assembly and the Senate...
- New Jersey Legislature financial disclosure forms
- Van Pelt criminal complaint, United States Department of JusticeUnited States Department of JusticeThe United States Department of Justice , is the United States federal executive department responsible for the enforcement of the law and administration of justice, equivalent to the justice or interior ministries of other countries.The Department is led by the Attorney General, who is nominated...
, July 23, 2009