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Richard Birdnik: New Jersey leaders pay tribute to sheriff at funeral
North Jersey leaders paid tribute to Sheriff Richard Birdnik at his funeral Mass on Wednesday, January 31, 2024.
Passaic County Sheriff Richard Birdnik had about $310,000 in his political bank account when he died of a self-inflicted gunshot wound on January 23rd.
Now, the treasurer of Friends of Berdnik seeking sheriff’s campaign funds must decide what to do with the money.
After paying off outstanding bills, treasurers will likely distribute the remainder as donations to candidates running for public office, political parties and charities, according to the New Jersey Elections Law Enforcement Commission.
“I haven’t decided what I’m going to do yet,” said Michael McLaughlin Sr., campaign finance treasurer and longtime law enforcement colleague of Mr. Berdnik.
How much campaign funds did Berdnik have?
Six days after Berdnik’s death, McLaughlin filed with ELEC the sheriff’s quarterly campaign finance report, due in January.
The report, which covers the last three months of 2023, said Mr Berdnik’s political bank account had increased from $299,499 on October 1st to a balance of $311,622 on December 31st. Ta. In the intervening three months, Mr. Berdnik received $99,763 in donations and spent $87,640.
During this period, the Berdnik Foundation donated $11,975 to political campaigns, with its largest contribution being $10,000 to the New Jersey Democratic State Committee on Nov. 6, the day before the congressional election. Other political donations went to Clifton Mayor Ray Grabowski, Passaic Mayor Hector Lora and Paterson City Councilman Luis Velez.
The Bernik Foundation also made charitable contributions of $4,131 in the last three months of 2023. Donations include the World Positive Action Organization in Pompton Lakes, the Family Resource Center in Hewitt, Club de Leones Simon Bolivar in Paterson, Catholic Charities, the Passaic Valley Junior Hornets baseball team in Totowa and Passaic. United Puerto Rico Council of.
The largest expenditure was approximately $38,000 during the ELEC reporting period, at a political fundraiser for “Latinx Unidos Night” held on Nov. 22 at Westmount Country Club in Woodland Park. accounted for the bulk of the campaign funds received by Mr. Berdnik.
More from Patterson Press: Passaic Sheriff’s Office purchases $10 million in security equipment from companies targeted by FBI
The “beloved sheriff” mourned: Passaic County remembers Richard Berdnik at funeral mass
Donations came from Sheriff’s Department employees and owners of Toros Restaurant.
According to a recent report, Mr. Berdnik’s political funds received more than 50 donations from members of the Sheriff’s Office. There was also a contribution from Toros restaurant owner Hussein Bayram, who was photographed with Berdnik minutes before the sheriff killed himself in the restaurant’s bathroom.
Joe Marinconico is an editor at Patterson Press. Email: editor@patersonpress.com
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