Libertarian congressional candidate Dorit Goikhman’s campaign team discovered unlawful practices in vendor admission to Marlboro Day. When the Marlboro Day staff was contacted about setting up a stand at the event, the township representative denied access on the grounds that political candidates could not attend the event, unless “you’re with the mayor.”
Several days prior, a representative from Goikhman’s campaign was told that political parties could attend Marlboro Day, but that individual candidates were barred. Such regulations violate the First Amendment of the Constitution, as all political entities should be allowed equal representation in public forums. Independent candidates, who are unaffiliated with a specific party, are automatically denied access by this requirement.
By only allowing mayor-approved political exhibitors, Marlboro Day is excluding the non-Democratic parties’ representation as well. Mayor Jonathan Hornik was elected as a Democrat. Dorit Goikhman, a Marlboro native, is running for Congress in New Jersey’s sixth district. She has since appealed to the mayor, and hopes that the matter can be resolved amicably.
“Even after being confronted with the misconduct, I get the sense that the mayor sees the consideration of my request as a special favor, rather than the township’s clear obligation under the First Amendment,” Goikhman said, “but the people of Marlboro have a right to meet their congressional candidate, and I have the right to be represented in my home town.”
“This isn’t about special privileges, it’s about a fair shot. If I were any less tenacious, I would have given up by now and the incumbents would have won. It’s a shame that I needed to waste precious time and campaign resources on something that should be a given,” Goikhman concluded.
For more information about Goikhman’s fight to end local government corruption, visit www.doritfornj.com.