Why we need campaign finance reform

In case you are keeping score, state Sen. Ellen Karcher, D-Monmouth, has raised more money for her election campaign than any legislative candidate but Senate President Richard J. Codey, D-Essex. According to Karcher's 29-day pre-election report, released today, she has raised $985,185. Her opponent in the 12th District, GOP Assemblywoman Jennifer Beck, has raised $148,011 - nearly seven times less.

If this race stays close - it's one of the few competitive Senate races in the state - the final tab for Karcher's campaign could reach $2 million. To date, most of Karcher's money has come from Codey's Senate Democratic Leadership PAC - $620,000 - and the state Democratic Committee - $102,000.

The Democrats actually are pouring even more money into the 12th District Assembly race. The joint Michael Panter-Amy Mallet campaign raised $943,838. Panter and Mallet both had $317,000 in separate accounts. Between the two of them, they have hauled in more than $1.5 million - so far. Their Republican opponents, Caroline Casagrande and Declan O'Scanlon, together have raised about $114,000 - about 14 times less.

The only other candidate in the six districts covering Monmouth and Ocean counties to have raised more than $200,000 is Sen. Joseph Kyrillos, R-Monmouth ($377,000). Of the area incumbents, Assemblyman Jim Holzapfel, R-Ocean, has raised the least ($36,171), followed by Assemblywoman Amy Handlin, R-Monmouth ($40,267).