Torres anticipates building relationship with Christie for the sake of Paterson

Up for re-election next year, veteran Paterson Mayor Jose "Joey" Torres expects imminent contact with Republican Gov.-elect Chris Christie.

"Whether he initiates it or we do, at the end of the day we have to work together," Torres said. "If we shun each other, it will only get worse. We're going to have to have bipartisan support to get over the major hurdles of a financial crisis. The people have spoken.

"I've never looked for handouts, but have sought state aid to respond to definite needs in Paterson," added the mayor. "There is no pork barrel here."

Mayor for the past seven plus years, Torres is seeking a third term in 2010 and faces an emergent field of challengers, including Council President Jeffrey Jones and, potentially, At-Large Councilman Rigo Rodriguez and Ward 6 Councilman Andre Sayegh.

In the midst of a late summer violent crime surge, Jones (the mayor's highest profile official challenger) and Torres parted company on an adult city curfew proposed by the mayor and envisioned as a two-month emergency measure. Jones pulled the item from the council agenda. 

A close ally of defeated Gov. Jon Corzine, Torres acknowledges that his opponents will try to seize hold of his vital association with the governor and on that basis in part argue for a new executive in the mayor's chair.

"At the end of the day, Gov. Corzine wasn't governing Paterson," said Torres. "Remember, I have worked not only with Gov. Corzine, but with governors Codey and McGreevey."

The mayor admitted Corzine's loss to Christie last week took him by surprise.

"I was a little disappointed we didn't come out heavier in support of the governor," said the mayor. "We didn't make it to that 50% mark (compared to last year's turnout result for Barack Obama) but we still delivered by an 18 to 2 margin. The reality is the incumbent was in an economic crisis not of his own making."