In case you missed this story over the President's Day Weekend

By Wally Edge | February 21st, 2006 - 12:43pm
| More

Christy Davis Jackson, the Campaign Manager for Jon Corzine's 2000 U.S. Senate campaign and the wife of a politically powerful Black Minister, is the subject of a federal criminal investigation related to allegations of a political slush fund at the University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey, according to a Star-Ledger report. Jackson resigned her post as UMDNJ Vice President of Government Affairs in December. The Star-Ledger obtained a confidential memo that says UMDNJ "maintained a political fund to funnel thousands of dollars in contributions to top New Jersey elected officials." The memo was written by Carol Caprarola, who was a longtime aide to State Senate President Donald DiFrancesco before going to work for Jackson at UMDNJ. A Grand Jury is reviewing allegations that UMDNJ officials were instructed to contribute to political campaigns and then get reimbursed by the school. Jackson is married to the Rev. Reginald Jackson, the Executive Director, New Jersey Council of Black Ministers.

Is there anyone who has actually met Christy Davis that is surpr

Is there anyone who has actually met Christy Davis that is surprised by this?

First she told her superiors at UMDNJ that she had separated herself from her public affairs firm. They believed her. Then when confronted on the issue by reporters because a secretary still tells people that she works there she says that the secretary was confused.

Then she uses a UMDNJ computer to send emails to that secretary about how to start closing down the firm (which she has no interest in any longer apparently).

And let's be fair...Everyone likes to use the phrase that she was the manager of Jon Corzine's successful campaign for US Senate. I really wish the media would purporting that one. Steve DeMicco must get chest pains when he hears that.

I watched it all first-hand. She was a figurehead whose only value was that the head of the black ministers was smitten with her. Her value ended there.

It is a true disservice to everyone on that campaign to think that she had any real value.

"Everyone" can be forgiven for "thinking that she had any real v

"Everyone" can be forgiven for "thinking that she had any real value" by virtue of the title she was assigned. If DiMicco and everyone on the campaign have chest pains whenever they hear it, then they should take it up with whomever gave her the title, not people who naturally conclude that the bestowing of the title implies some level of responsibility. (see Roger Chugh, Golan Cipel, etc.)

Besides, I think it's probably fair to say that DiMicco's chest is doing just fine as long as the bill is paid on time, thank you very much.

I love you Fresh Perspective

I love you Fresh Perspective

Among the issues that the US Attorney's office is allegedly inve

Among the issues that the US Attorney's office is allegedly investigating is whether or not the contributions made by UMDNJ at the direction of Ms. Davis also benefitted her other clients. If that is the case, she is in for a troubling ride.

Wake-Up Call

Morning News Digest: February 9, 2010

Garden State Equality fires new broadside at Dems Smarting over the state Senate's refusal to pass marriage equality and disillusioned at the moment with the Democratic Party majority, Garden State Equality’s 85-member Board of Directors unanimously decided against giving financial contributions to political parties and their affiliated committees. ...

Wally Edge

As the new administration looks to reorganize the embattled Passaic Valley Sewerage Authority (PVSA), watch for at least two part-time $53,420-a-year lawyers to be on the termination short list: James Piro, a former Essex County GOP Chairman and...
The brother of U.S. Rep. Frank Pallone has announced his candidacy for the Long Branch City Council.  John Pallone, who served as a Councilman from 1990 to 1994, said today that he would run with David Brown, the former Roselle Business...
A handwritten note left behind during a Senate Budget and Appropriations Committee meeting indicates that Senate Majority Leader Barbara Buono (D-Metuchen) would support a plan to require all current public employees to contribute at least 1.5% of...
As New Jersey braces for another snowstorm, noteworthy is Hamilton Mayor John Bencivengo’s website, where residents can use “Snow Plow Sal” to monitor the movements of snow plows to determine when their street will be plowed.  Hamilton also has...
Just before leaving the Senate Presidency, Richard Codey (D-Roseland) appointed Orange Mayor Eldridge Hawkins to the Congressional Redistricting Commission.  Now his successor, Stephen Sweeney (D-West Deptford) is considering making his own...

Contributors

Everybody needs to start a new job with a list of priorities and Chris Christie is no exception. There might be a thousand things that need to get done... more »
A new Governor and Legislature offer the perfect opportunity to re-think the Trenton status quo and for experienced observers and practitioners to offer their best ideas on improving the... more »
 I grew up in a neighborhood in Newark, New Jersey where gambling was part of every day life.  Many of my relatives gambled.  The guys gambled on games, and... more »
Due to a highly inappropriate breach of etiquette by President Barack Obama in his State of the Union Address, the recent U.S. Supreme Court decision in the Citizens United... more »
When life is bad---natural disasters, families losing homes or jobs, an attack on our country, health crises--people come together and do things that are inspiringly good.  After the... more »
Our new Governor suffers from no lack of advice.  Much of it, contained in the transition reports, deserves prompt attention.  Obviously, economic prosperity benefits everyone, and – as... more »
The agenda has been ambitious.Jobs.  Homeland security.  Iraq.  Afghanistan.  Healthcare.  Energy.  Banking.   Taken together, the Obama Presidency has all the makings of a compelling story -- action, adventure, emotion,... more »
The new regime pushes the only conservative off the Budget Committee.   This is a direct result of pressure from a certain Republican County Chairperson who was hired by Garden... more »
Now that  the dust has finally settled after the grueling campaign for governor, there are a number of lessons that we can draw from this election. First and... more »
A  few years ago, my brother Paul gave me a birthday present of Tim Russert’s book, The Wisdom of Our Fathers. Great book. Read it cover to cover. Or skim... more »
New Jersey's spending and borrowing spree over the past three decades is coming home to roost.  State debt has increased 700% under both Republican and Democratic administrations, and spending... more »
On January 11th New Jersey’s 213th Legislature ended its session, followed the next day by the commencement of the 214th Legislature, with newly elected officials being sworn into office,... more »
On January 6, 2010, several newspapers published articles with titles like “no more aid for struggling cities”, “Christie will cut state aid” and the like; furthermore, in the body... more »
New Jersey Governor Chris Christie, you target teachers. That’s not a positive note to start your tenure. You forget that the Teachers’ Union makes decisions on its own, such... more »