Sayreville Democratic leader Thomas Pollando resigns from all NJ posts amid bribery charge

SAYREVILLE – After a chorus of calls for his resignation by local, county and state political leaders, Thomas Pollando has stepped down from all government posts he held after he was charged last month with accepting thousands of dollars in bribes.

Pollando has resigned as chairman of the Sayreville Democratic Party, vice chairman of the Middlesex County Planning Board, a member of the Sayreville Economic and Redevelopment Authority and an employee of the New Jersey Turnpike Authority, his attorney Robert Honecker Jr. said Friday

The resignations came after the Middlesex County Prosecutor's Officer announced Thursday that Pollando had been charged with accepting in bribes in an ongoing criminal case.

"Tom is well respected in Sayreville and has been of service to the community for over 20 years. He is presumed innocent and will address the charges and he has determined to step down from all positions within the municipality and the county," Honecker said.

Honecker added Pollando submitted his resignation to the New Jersey Turnpike Authority Friday morning.

State records show Pollando was employed as a contracts administrator with a 2021 annual salary of $84,759.

Honecker said Pollando is "shaken" by the charges and he will deal with them in the coming weeks and months. He said no court date has been set, but he anticipates it might be in late September or early October.With the announcement of bribery charges coming just days before the Labor Day kickoff of the fall political season, county and municipal Democrats were quick to denounce Pollando's alleged actions by calling for his removal.

In the hours after the charges were announced, political leaders said it was time for Pollando to go.

Middlesex County Democratic Organization Chairman Kevin P. McCabe issued a statement demanding Pollando's immediate resignation from his position as chairman of the Sayreville Democratic Organization.

“The conduct alleged against Tom Pollando is wholly unacceptable," McCabe said. “Furthermore, I am requesting a full accounting of the finances of the Sayreville Democratic Organization in order to determine any further possible financial malfeasance. As leaders, we must hold ourselves to the highest ethical standards, and we will continue to have zero tolerance for corruption.”

The 19th District legislative leaders echoed McCabe.

“The conduct alleged against Thomas Pollando is appalling and completely intolerable," Sen. Joseph F. Vitale, Assembly Speaker Craig J. Coughlin and Assemblywoman Yvonne Lopez, all D-Middlesex, said in joint statement.

"There is absolutely no place in the Democratic Party or in Middlesex County for this type of behavior. We call on Mr. Pollando’s resignation and we are committed to continue working with the Sayreville Democratic Party to help them move forward from this extremely unfortunate situation," the statement continued.

Pollando, 72, of the Parlin section of Sayreville, was arrested Aug. 17 after allegedly accepting thousands of dollars in bribes in a criminal case, the Middlesex County Prosecutor's Office announced late Thursday.

During July and August, detectives from the Middlesex County Prosecutor's Office were conducting electronic surveillance of a Sayreville business when they observed Pollando allegedly accepting several thousands of dollars in cash and saying he would attempt to use his political clout to influence an ongoing criminal case.

Pollando was arrested after leaving the business and was found to be in possession of the cash, according to the prosecutor's office. He was charged with bribery in official matters and receipt of unlawful benefit by public servant for official behavior, both second-degree crimes. He was released the day of his arrest, according to the prosecutor's office.

Second-degree crimes carry a prison sentence of five to 10 years.

A voicemail message left for Pollando Friday has not been returned.

The prosecutor's office did not name the business involved in the criminal case.

In June five employees at a Sayreville Route 35 strip club were arrested and charged with money laundering and other criminal offenses following a yearlong investigation. Following those arrests, the prosecutor’s office has gone to court for the forfeiture of more than $3.5 million in assets, including two properties, 11 vehicles and $687,902 in gold and silver coins, from the family that ran Club 35.

Pollando is a former Sayreville Borough Council president and longtime president of the Sayreville Athletic Association.

Middlesex County Board of Commissioners Director Ronald G. Rios urged Pollando to resign from the county position.

"We are deeply troubled by the allegations against Planning Board member Thomas Pollando. Actions like those alleged are fully unbecoming of anyone in public service. We urge him to resign as soon as possible to give the boards he is currently affiliated with time to regroup and rebuild," Rios said.

Sayreville Mayor Victoria Kilpatrick called on Pollando to resign from his borough posts.

"In light of recent events, I felt it was important to notify you this evening as I am officially calling for the resignation of Thomas Pollando from the Sayreville Economic Redevelopment Agency (SERA), where he serves as a commissioner," Kilpatrick said in a Thursday message to residents. "I am also calling for his resignation from the Sayreville Athletic Association, a children’s organization sponsored by the Borough of Sayreville. Finally, I am officially calling for an investigation into all borough projects involving Mr. Pollando."

Democratic Sayreville Council President Michele Maher and Councilmembers Mary Novak and Vincent Conti expressed disappointment in hearing the charges brought against Pollando.

"In cases like this we need to let the justice system run its course. However, we are demanding that Mr. Pollando immediately resign from the borough's redevelopment agency. The Borough Council here in Sayreville is committed to delivering a government that is responsive to our taxpayers and that enhances the quality of life for all of us. This unfortunate incident will not deter us from that commitment to our residents," their joint statement said.

Email: srussell@gannettnj.com

Suzanne Russell is a breaking news reporter for MyCentralJersey.com covering crime, courts and other mayhem. To get unlimited access, please subscribe or activate your digital account today.

This article originally appeared on MyCentralJersey.com: Sayreville Democratic leader Tom Pollando resigns amid bribery charge