Candidate criticized for using clerk as driver
State Senate hopeful Singh dismisses issue as GOP 'mudslinging'
BY CHRIS MURINO Staff Writer

Seema Singh

Democratic state Senate hopeful Seema Singh was driven to and from events by an office clerk during her time as ratepayer advocate, according to a 2006 audit by the New Jersey state Legislature.

"When reviewing travel expenses incurred by the employee, we noted that most of the miles charged on his travel vouchers between July 2004 and January 2006 were in the capacity of a chauffeur for the director," the audit said about the clerk, Fabio Corro. Singh, of South Brunswick, defended the use of Corro.

"I was required to have a person with me," Singh said. "By driving together, we cut out duplicate charges. I used to do PowerPoint presentations; in a week we did three to four presentations all over New Jersey."

The audit also specified that Corro had worked as a clerk driver since 1992 for two other state agencies and that his past work experience did not merit his being hired as principal clerk.

Singh defended Corro and his responsibilities as principal clerk in a response to the audit.

"One of the employee's duties as principal clerk is to attend and assist the Director at the Division of Rate Counsel's Consumer Education and Outreach presentations conducted throughout the State of New Jersey by transporting, setting up and handing out materials," said Singh in the report.

Singh's Republican opponents voiced their displeasure about the situation in press releases. Requests for further comment from the Republicans

were not granted.

"For Seema Singh to have a chauffer at taxpayer expense is an egregious abuse of taxpayer dollars," Republican Tom Goodwin said in a press release. "Every day when I go door to door, I hear from families who are struggling with rising property taxes. This is another example of the government waste and abuse that drives up property taxes."

Singh is upset about the Republicans making a big deal about this.

"They're mudslinging when there's no issue," Singh said. "He's the one running a dishonest campaign. They're taking tips from newspapers that were slanted. They're not focused on the issues."

Singh is running against Bill Baroni in the 14th District. The district includes Cranbury, Hamilton, Jamesburg, Monroe, Plainsboro, South Brunswick and West Windsor.