Criminal complaint filed over use of township seal Original charges of fraud, impersonation downgraded to disorderly persons BY CHRIS GAETANO Staff Writer EDISON - Two township residents, Bill Stephens and Anthony Russomanno, have become the subject of a criminal complaint filed by township Business Administrator Anthony Cancro over the improper use of the township seal. While the original complaint charged fraud and impersonation, the charge has since been downgraded the matter to a disorderly persons offense. Stephens and Russomanno have generally been known as opponents of Mayor Jun Choi and his supporters, with Stephens having run against him in the last mayoral election and Russomanno having run for council against Choi's slate. Stephens is also a former township councilman. The origins of the complaint come from an event organized by Stephens and Russomanno on Jan. 29 outside the New Jersey Convention and Expo Center, where Choi was to give his State of the Township address. The complaint centers on a flier advertising for the event, because the flier had the township seal on it. Cancro said in a statement that the use of the township seal for something that was not officially sponsored by the township was deceptive. "Government exists to serve and protect the people it governs. What occurred was a brazen act which under the deceptive guise of government, misled the taxpayers of the township, especially a segment of our most vulnerable population, senior citizens. It is my duty to serve and protect the residents of Edison, and that is why action needed to be taken," said Cancro. Stephens said that he felt the complaint was "absurd," among other things, and that the Choi administration was using the courts to play intimidation games. Further, he said, he hadn't even known that it would have been a problem in the first place - he stated that he felt that since the event concerned township business, it would be OK to use the township seal. "In no way, shape or form were we trying to insinuate that we represent Edison Township. We represent the taxpayers. I don't know why we're wasting taxpayer money with this type of ridiculous charge," said Stephens. The matter had come to light partially as a result of some people being confused about the origins of the flier. Mary Joe Elder, an Edison resident, stated that she had thought that since the event had the seal on it, it was an official township event, and she called the municipal building asking for more information. When she was told that it wasn't a township event, she was asked to bring in a copy of the flier. "I thought it came from the mayor's office, and I was calling to find out more directions … and when they didn't know anything about it, 'But,' I said, 'it has your seal on it,' " said Elder. Stephens, meanwhile, stated that he believes it was only one or two people who had called the municipal building, and that most people know he has nothing to do with the township government. "Everyone knows who Bill Stephens is and that he is not a part of the administration, and Anthony Russomanno too … so, no, we weren't trying to defraud anyone, we were simply trying to help the taxpayers," Stephens said. The event the flier was advertising for involved Stephens and Russomanno handing out tax appeal forms as a protest to the mayor's proposed 15-cent tax increase, though if a budget amendment is adopted, as usually happens during this process, it would probably be closer to 9.8 cents. Regardless of whether using the seal was against the law, Russomanno said that the initial charges against him and Stephens were disproportionate to what had actually taken place. "What's the big deal? We never made an issue of that [in the past]. … Since when are we so touchy? This is a way to shut people like us down, and if he should win this or we should get fined, his hope is everyone will shut down like a communist country," said Russomanno. Stephens agreed and cited the downgrading of the charges from fraud and impersonation to disorderly persons as proof. "The disorderly persons charge … I think when they downgraded, they couldn't think of any other charge to downgrade to. [But] there was certainly no disorder at the rally," Stephens said. According to township Communications Director Jerry Barca, the charges will be heard in a municipal court. As of press time, which court will be used had not been determined.