What is “wheeling”?
“Wheeling” is the transfer of money between political organizations in order to skirt campaign funding laws or to conceal the true source of the funds. A “wheeling” example: In November 2005, Trenton Mayor Douglas Palmer transferred $5000 of his campaign funds to the fund of Mercer County Clerk Candidate Paula Sollami-Covello. The very next day, the $5000 was transferred (wheeled) to the campaign of Council Candidate Mark Holmes in neighboring Lawrence Township. Mayor Palmer’s wife, Christiana Foglio-Palmer, had a pending redevelopment area application in Lawrence, which was approved following Councilman Holmes reelection. Foglio-Palmer was also awarded tax abatement under a Payment in Lieu of Taxes (PILOT) program.
