Dover candidate irks mayor by using old political signs

DOVER – A former Dover alderman who is trying to reclaim a 4th Ward seat has dusted off about 25 political signs he saved from 2006 and planted them on lawns.

The problem is Dominic Timpani’s old signs were paid for by the Committee to Elect James Dodd mayor, and that declaration is visible at the bottom of the signs that say “Dominic Timpani 4th Ward.” Timpani used to be allied with Dodd, the longtime incumbent mayor, but this year he is part of a slate that backs Police Chief Harold “Butch” Valentine for the four-year mayor’s seat.

Dodd was livid about Timpani’s use of the old signs and at first said he believed he was violating state election laws. But state Election Law Enforcement Commission spokesman Joseph Donohue, emphasizing that he was not commenting directly on the Dover race, said use of old signs does not violate election laws as long as the information is accurate.

“Our regulations only require the disclosure accurately reflect who paid for the sign. Candidates are not banned from using old signs,” Donohue said.

Dodd said he paid in 2006 for signs for some of the Democrats who were running for seats on the Board of Aldermen -- including Timpani -- while he ran for mayor. Dodd said he suspects that Timpani, while backing Valentine for mayor, is trying to mislead voters into thinking he is part of Dodd’s team.

Timpani said he believes that Dodd feels vulnerable in seeking the Democratic nomination for mayor in the June 2 primary and is making a fuss over trivia.

“You have to go up to the signs with binoculars to see the ‘paid for’ part,” Timpani said. “We don’t have a lot of money to spend. Those signs belong to me, I saved them, and I don’t care who paid for them.”

Dodd said he was considering asking some homeowners to remove the Timpani signs from their lawns.

“Dominic is purposely trying to deceive the public with those signs. Wherever I have a sign up he puts his up. I don’t want to associate my team with Dominic Timpani,” Dodd said.

Valentine, who won a court challenge several weeks ago to his Democratic candidacy, laughed when he heard Timpani was using old signs paid for by Dodd’s campaign.

“It’s an oversight on Dominic’s part. We’re not the big Democratic machine that Jim Dodd is. I don’t think it’s a deal killer,” Valentine said.

Superior Court Assignment Judge Thomas Weisenbeck, sitting in Morristown, last month made two decisions pertaining to the primary election race in Dover.

Town Administrator Donald Travisano had suspended Valentine without pay after the chief refused his order to either withdraw from the race or resign/retire as chief. Travisano charged that Valentine was violating one of his own regulations that requires officers to get approval from the Morris County Prosecutor’s Office to run for political office. Prosecutor Fredric M. Knapp was neutral on the issue, meaning Valentine technically didn’t get his approval to run.

Weisenbeck ruled that Valentine had the constitutional right to run for office. Town municipal Democratic Chairman James Visioli, who also is an alderman, had also challenged the residencies of both Timpani and 3rd Ward Alderman candidate Patrick Fahy and the judge found he was satisfied that both men live in Dover. Visioli had contended that Timpani, who served six years on the board, lives in Randolph and Fahy, who served eight terms, lives in Newton.

Staff Writer Peggy Wright: 973-267-1142; pwright@GannettNJ.com.