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Gov. Chris Christie.
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TRENTON -- A super PAC promoting Gov. Chris Christie's presidential campaign relied in part on donations from people or companies with lucrative contracts with the state or interested in doing business with New Jersey in raising $11 million so far this year, records show.
The donations, while not illegal, helped America Leads' fundraising efforts through June 30. New Jersey's pay-to-play laws would have prohibited some of the donations, which are being used to bankroll TV ads in New Hampshire and across the nation on Fox News, from being given to Christie's gubernatorial campaigns.
"It's certainly not ethical and it goes against all standards of fair campaign contributions," said Bill Schluter, a former Republican state senator who helped write the state's pay-to-play laws.
"It doesn't follow the spirit of the pay-to-play law," he said. "It's just an abuse."
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The records, which were released Friday, show that George Harms Construction, which had more than $100 million in contracts with the state in 2014, gave $25,000. Ferreira Construction, which made more than $34 million from the New Jersey Turnpike Authority that same year, gave $100,000 to the group.
Contributions to America Leads also included $10,000 from Acacia Financial Group Inc., a Marlton-based financial adviser with dozens of local contracts throughout the state, and $9,000 from several engineers at AECOM, which has public works contracts throughout the state.
The group also benefited from donations from regulated industries that were barred from donating to Christie in a state campaign, including Public Service Enterprise Group, PSEG's parent company, which gave $250,000.
The list also included at least one person eyeing business with the state.
Winecup-Gamble Inc., owned by former Reebok CEO Paul Fireman, was the single-largest contributor to America Leads, giving $1 million. Fireman plans to build a $4.6 billion casino in Jersey City if lawmakers advance a constitutional amendment to allow gambling outside of Atlantic City and voters approve it.
The group also benefited from a $250,000 contribution from Angelo Gordon Investments' CEO John Angelo. As of April, New Jersey had a residual $5.5 million investment with company, which up until recently employed First Lady Mary Pat Christie, that would likely prevent donations directly to Christie's presidential campaign because of federal SEC rules.
Other donations to the PAC included Quicken Loans chairman Daniel Gilbert, who gave $750,000, and hedge-fund billionaire Steven Cohen and his wife, Alexandra, who together gave $2 million.
Meg Whitman, the CEO of Hewlett-Packard who made an unsuccessful bid for governor of California, donated $100,000, and Ken Langone, the outspoken longtime Christie supporter, donated $250,000 (Home Depot's other co-founder, Bernard Marcus, chipped in $1 million to former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush's campaign).
America Leads can't coordinate with Christie or his campaign staff.
NJ Advance Media reported earlier this month that Christie's presidential fundraising team includes lobbyists for Caesars Entertainment and Public Service Enterprise Group, companies that could not donate to his gubernatorial campaign because they are regulated by the state.
A spokesman for the PAC didn't respond for comment.
Matt Arco may be reached at marco@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @MatthewArco or on Facebook. Follow NJ.com Politics on Facebook.