SUNBURY -- Can the Northumberland County commissioners turn away bids from vendors who made campaign contributions to elected county officials?

Commissioner Vinny Clausi hopes so, so the county can eliminate the "pay to play" practices that he says have plagued it for the last 20-plus years. Clausi on Tuesday said vendors have been "buying away" county contracts for the last few decades, getting preferential treatment in exchange for large campaign contributions, and says he wants to end that by passing an ordinance that would prohibit the county from entering into contracts with those who donated to any elected official's campaign.

It's illegal for vendors to make campaign contributions, but not for the individuals who represent those organizations.

Fellow Commissioners Kurt Masser and Frank Sawicki agreed with Clausi's proposal in principle, but objected to the insinuation inherent in his claim.

"To say this corrupted contract matters the last 20 to 30 years sort of includes me and I take offense to that," Masser said. "It casts a light on us I certainly don't appreciate."

Masser said many people who contributed to his campaigns have lost contracts with the county.

"You've got to perform to play," he said.

Clausi used his own money to fund his two campaigns for commissioner, including nearly $43,000 in the last election.

The board voted unanimously to have solicitor Hugh Jones look into the plausibility, and legality, of enacting such an ordinance.

"The main thing is, when we do this, we do this properly," said Sawicki. "What do we do? Do we throw them (contract bidders) off? No, you made a campaign contribution.' ... Do we have that ability of doing this? Are we violating election campaign laws? I don't know."

Jones said the issue raises a number of questions, including whether rejecting contracts with campaign contributors would be constitutional.

In 2005, the city of Philadelphia passed legislation making it possible for the city council to regulate contracts by requiring the disclosure of campaign contributions and banning contracts with certain contributors, according to the city's Web site.

Clausi said 17 counties in New Jersey have also passed similar legislation.

A spokesperson with the Pennsylvania Department of State said issues like this are typically determined at the local level.

A call to the state Department of Community and Economic Development was not returned as of press time.