It may be legal but it is unseemly and inappropriate. This is what the citizen of Essex County get when we have fourteen elected officials running Essex County all from one party who for the most part win in elections that are hardly contested. Freeholder districts four and five were the only close ones. This means that seven Freeholders, The Executive, The Surrogate, The Clerk, The Register of Deeds, and Sheriff had landslide wins in the last election won. Why should any elected official think they have to be accountable? The Democrats have start governing with out back room deals and the nonsense like this with Joey D. The Republicans have to get organized so the other party can be held accountable. Alternatively take the about three quarters of a billion dollar the county of Essex spends. Divide up needed governmental function of the county up between the 22 municipalities and the state and prorate the money accordingly. Then tax payers would have some saving and be rid of the imperial executive. Let him play golf, go on vacation, and dine on his own money.

this is why he needed to retire and still get paid. Pension and his normal salary!

How's our restaurant doing?

Joe D succeeded two County Executives who went to jail. I wrote an op-ed piece praying that Joe D, a good family man, would run a clean scandal free administration. But I guess my prayer was optimistic. It is appears that most elected officials feel entitled to siphon off a few bucks of our hard earned tax dollars for themselves. Pay it back, Joe.

@ M Okeff: You are right it is different. If he used tax dollars it would most likely be a criminal issue. However, I wonder how much of the campaign money came from people or entities that have business with Essex County? Essex County has some of the highest property taxes in the nation and state. The County Executive should focus on getting roads, paved, making our high case welfare department help people to move up, controlling spending, making sure the county law enforcement agencies are intelligently fighting crime, making sure the county parks are clean, and also controlling taxes. Unfortunately it appear as if he is using his position for himself and not the people he serves. Also what is unfortunate and I say this a Republican and former Freeholder Candidate it diminishes the good things he has done.

Did Essex County Executive Joseph DiVincenzo Jr. rack up some personal travel and credit card expenses and use his campaign funds to pay them off?

Did the little piggy cry weeeeeeeeeeeee when coming home from the market place?

Isn't this essentially the same violation of election laws for which former Senator John Edwards is now facing trial - that he used campaign finances for personal use (albeit a cover-up of his extra-marital affair) and could serve as many as 5 years in prison if convicted?

The main issue I have is that he keeps winning with huge percentage of the vote despite this behavior. Some one has to rise up and be the next candidate to win

Maybe the Republicans should stop running joke candidates against him.