Subject: Democratic leader brings ethics complaint vs. freeholder: By THOMAS BARLAS Staff Writer, The Press; Atlantic County's Democratic leader is alleging a Republican freeholder violated the county's ethics code by not fully prosecuting a campaign donor in connection with illegal dumping and tree-cutting activities in Mullica Township. Atlantic County Democratic Committee Chairman Ron Ruff alleges Freeholder James Curcio, in his position as Mullica Township's prosecutor, didn't push to recover fines, late fees and penalties imposed against Steve Waszen. “He's not following up on these things,” Ruff said. Ruff also contends in his complaint with the Atlantic County Ethics Board that Curcio never disclosed Waszen's $1,800 donation to township officials or removed himself from the case to avoid a conflict of interest. Curcio said he had forgotten about the donation, which was properly disclosed on state campaign finance reports. He also said the contribution had no influence on his job as prosecutor, to which he was appointed last year. “I always prosecuted him vigorously and he's been convicted of everything he's been charged with,” Curcio said. “While I was prosecuting, we got $184,000 in fines against him.” Curcio said Waszen has used up his appeals and will be back in court next month as the township tries to collect the money. The freeholder said there's no validity to the complaint, which he called “purely political.” “Fortunately, there is a public record of everything I do,” he said, referring to court records that he said would show how he fully prosecuted Waszen. Curcio is running for re-election to his 5th District freeholder seat, which represents his home town of Hammonton and Buena Borough, Buena Vista Township, Egg Harbor City, Estell Manor, Folsom, Mullica Township, Weymouth Township and parts of Hamilton Township. His opponent is Hammonton Town Councilman Anthony Falcone. Curcio confronted Falcone about the ethics complaint during Town Council's meeting Monday night, accusing Falcone of being behind the filing of the “bogus” charges. “I did not file a complaint against you,” an angry Falcone repeatedly told Curcio, adding the Town Council meeting wasn't the place to discuss the issue. The brief confrontation became increasingly heated, with Curcio eventually calling Falcone a “liar and a coward.” In the ethics complaint, Ruff writes that the “reprehensible and unethical acts of self-interest by Mr. Curcio are toxic to the political and governing environment.” “Should you find ... Curcio in violation of one or more of these ethics provisions, we request that you prosecute him,” Ruff writes.