By LARRY HANOVER
Courier-Post Staff
Republicans may have played a key behind-the-scenes role in getting a 1997 referendum passed to build Seneca High School, but party members involved this year insist Tuesday's Lenape Regional School District election is no repeat.
John Maroccia, incoming chairman of the Medford Democratic Party, on Thursday said the involvement of key Republicans in a political action committee pushing for budget approval raises questions of whether the ulterior motive is "contracts and patronage."

But Stephen Madosky, whose wife is chairwoman of the Coalition for Children's Education -- which has funded mailers and signs to support the $128.5 million Lenape budget -- denied having any motive besides helping children and ending a string of four straight budget defeats.

"It's aggravating," Madosky said. "You try to do what's right for kids and stuff. People try to make it something else."
Madosky said the coalition, which has spent about $20,000, represents a cross-section of GOP, Democratic and nonaffiliated voters.

In 1997, powerful county Republican J. Garfield DeMarco organized a PAC to back a $68.7 million referendum to build Seneca High in Tabernacle and expand Cherokee High School in Evesham, getting contributions from firms already under contract with the school district.

The Coalition for Children's Education, too, is a PAC, though Madosky said there's no hidden agenda.
Still, the PAC does have GOP connections.

Madosky, whose wife Theresa donated $2,500 to the county GOP last year, according to state election records, said he is close friends with a PAC volunteer, recently departed Burlington GOP Executive Director Sean Kennedy.
Also, Madosky has done business with the Republicans. His Cherry Hill firm, Majaq Logo Products, was paid $6,500 last fall by the Burlington GOP for promotional items for the county farm fair, records show.

Madosky, however, said that while he may bill for some of his efforts, he'll end up losing $6,000. And Kennedy said his involvement does not imply GOP interest in the campaign.

Maroccia, who said the Medford Democrats have no stance on the budget, said the connections raise suspicions.
"We know a school system, like every other governmental entity, has jobs to offer, (such as for) engineers," Maroccia said." PAC treasurer Jason DeMarco also is an active Republican, said current Burlington GOP Executive Director Rich Levesque. But the party has no interest in the race, he said. Jason DeMarco is no relation to J. Garfield DeMarco, Levesque added.

Madosky, a board member of the Medford Youth Athletic Association, said the PAC also has no agenda regarding an additional ballot question. That referendum asks voters to approve raising $5.8 million to install synthetic turf and repair track surfaces at Lenape's four high schools. The PAC's creation predates the district's decision to put the question on the ballot, Madosky added.

Kennedy's job involves drumming up business for Maser Consulting of Red Bank, a leading engineering firm, but citing conflicts, said he would turn down any work for Lenape.
Reach Larry Hanover at (856) 486-2470 or lhanover@courierpostonline.com