Reginald Jackson

Barry Funt is one of the Republican candidates for State Assembly in District 27, which has voted Democratic in four straight elections

Three long-shot Assembly candidates today accused Gov. Jon Corzine of using his personal wealth to silence influential members of the black community on an issue they say they are their allies on: school vouchers.

"We strongly believe that school choice is the way out.  Many of these ministers have advocated the same thing, and ultimately you've seen the damaging impacts of Corzine's money," said Barry Funt, a Republican running for assembly in District 27 who has organized a group of mostly Republican Assembly challengers called "Citizens for Assembly."

Funt was joined by two black Assembly candidates - Herbert Glenn, a Republican running in District 28; and Rev. Clenard Childress, a Democrat-turned-Republican-turned-independent who is running in District 34.  Districts 28 and 34 are heavily Democratic.

At issue were the recent revelations that Corzine's philanthropic foundation last year gave $87,000 to the church of influential Reverend Reginald Jackson - who heads the Black Ministers Council and endorsed Corzine this month -- and $1 million three years ago to the Camden County nonprofit organization and church run by Rev. Bishop David G. Evans, who is a member of the New Jersey Turnpike Authority's board. 

"When you have a job that basically appears to be appointed by Democrats in New Jersey already and you're receiving cash grants or whatever loan funds from the governor, how much can you stand up and point to the gross negligence of African-American leadership, and leadership in this government," said District 28 Republican Assembly candidate Herb Glenn, referring to Evans. 

Still, the candidates were careful not to go out after the black religious leaders too forcefully. 

Glenn, who sat next to a photo of himself holding an umbrella over Jackson while he spoke at a July school choice rally in front of the State House, tempered his language on the Jackson. 

Jackson sits on the board of E3 (Excellent Education for Everyone) - a group that supports school vouchers, and has been an outspoken proponent of the idea.  Republican gubernatorial candidate Chris Christie even engaged in a public flirtation with Jackson for his support.

Former U.S. Attorney Christopher Christie's top campaign officials went after the New York Times today in response to a story that a former Justice Department official may have used her position to help Christie's campaign for governor.

"I think a story by unnamed sources two weeks out from the campaign making allegations which are untrue - I don't think there's a lot of credence to that story - and it was not something I was expecting two weeks out form the New York Times," said Christie strategist Mike DuHaime.

DuHaime and state Sen. Joseph Kyrillos (R-Middletown), who chairs Christie's campaign, put together a press conference call this morning to talk about $87,000 in donations from Gov. Jon Corzine and his charitable foundation last year to the church of Rev. Reginald Jackson, who was courted by Christie but endorsed Corzine this month. 

Kyrillos criticized Corzine for delaying filing his philanthropic foundation's tax returns, arguing that "There must be a reason why the information is not forthcoming. We have 14 days left before an election."

A Star-Ledger report that Gov. Jon Corzine contributed $87,000 to Rev. Reginald Jackson's church is more evidence that the governor is trying to buy endorsements, said State Sen. Joseph Kyrillos (R-Middletown), the chairman of Republican Christopher Christie's campaign.

"For the past ten years, Jon Corzine has used his personal wealth to influence elections and voters across our state and, now, it appears he is using contributions from his charitable foundation to continue this excessive influence," Kyrillos said.  "It is improper for Governor Corzine to contribute such large sums to organizations with a vested interest in the governor's race and with significant political sway during an election year."

Corzine's charitable foundation has applied for an extension on the filing of their 2008 tax return with the Internal Revenue Service, a move that can delay disclosure of their contributions until after Election Day.

EAST BRUNSWICK -- Chris Christie played it low key today, holding a living room sit-down with middle-class family just after Vice President Joe Biden stumped for Governor Jon Corzine a few miles away.

After he answered half-an-hour's worth of friendly questions from hosts Allison and Dan Brown and their guests, Christie parried media questions that started by noting the Democratic heavy hitters coming to New Jersey this week, starting with Biden today, Bill Clinton tomorrow and President Obama on Wednesday.

When asked how he felt about the onslaught of Democratic stars into the state today, Christie said "I think the people of New Jersey understand that neither Joe Biden, nor Bill Clinton, nor President Obama are going to move into the State House in January and help run the place."

Christie said it was good that Obama was coming to New Jersey.

"Even when he's campaigning against me, it's good for the people of New Jersey to see their president," he said.

Christie will have one national Republican figure in-state for him, however.  Louisiana Governor Bobby Jindal will attend a Republican Governors Association fundraiser at a private home in Warren tonight.  Although the RGA cannot coordinate with his campaign, it has spent several million dollars on television ads tearing down Corzine and independent Christopher Daggett.

Two state Republican leaders are calling on Gov. Jon Corzine to release contributions made by his charitable foundation.  PolitickerNJ.com reported on Saturday that Corzine has sought an extension to file his tax returns for the Jon S. Corzine Foundation.

Corzine has faced similar criticisms in past campaigns.  During his 2000 U.S. Senate race, Corzine avoided questions about his foundation until political pressure forced him to reveal his contributions.  The foundation had donated more than $250,000 to future supporters, including Rev. Reginald Jackson's church, Stephen Adubato's North Ward Cultural Center, Rev. Jesse Jackson's Operation Rainbow/PUSH, and Planned Parenthood.  All helped him secure the Democratic nomination in a heated primary with former Gov. Jim Florio.

"Once again, Governor Corzine chooses to hide the ball from the voters. Before they go to the polls, the people have a right to know about where Jon Corzine spreads his millions around the State," said Assemblyman Jay Webber (R-Morris Plains), the Republican State Chairman.  "For years, he has used his foundation money to buy political chits. Now, before his biggest election, the people deserve the opportunity to see where he's putting his money, and whether he is trying to ‘make problems disappear' and ‘win friends during his election campaign.' Unfortunately, transparency is not a hallmark of the Corzine Administration, and this concealment of his foundation's records is just another example of the Governor's failure to meet his obligations to the people."

The Jon S. Corzine Foundation, formed by Gov. Jon Corzine as his philanthropic outlet, has asked the Internal Revenue Service for an extension.  That allows them to avoid filing a tax return until after the election.  In the past, political rivals have accused Corzine of using the foundation to bolster his political career.

During his 2000 U.S. Senate campaign, Corzine avoided questions about his foundation until political pressure forced him to reveal his contributions.  The foundation had donated more than $250,000 to future supporters, including Rev. Reginald Jackson's church, Stephen Adubato's North Ward Cultural Center, Rev. Jesse Jackson's Operation Rainbow/PUSH, and Planned Parenthood.  All helped him secure the Democratic nomination in a heated primary with former Gov. Jim Florio.

According to published reports, the foundation contributed over $3.5 million to charity in 2007, including large contributions to African American churches in Newark and Camden.  Corzine has also forgiven a $50,000 personal loan to Reginald Jackson, the Executive Director of the New Jersey Council of Black Ministers.  Jackson endorsed Corzine this week.

Republican Assembly candidate Herbert Glenn, oustide Chris Christie's Newark campaign headquarters last month, says that Gov. Jon Corzine is buying the endorsements of some Black ministers

Herbert Glenn, a Newark Republican who is running for the State Assembly in the predominately Democratic 28th district, predicts that three Black ministers will gain financially by their endorsements of Gov. Jon Corzine.

"I am deeply concerned to investigate the understanding how religious leaders can compromise their spiritual convictions for their own personal political empowerment," Glenn said in a statement released today.  "This is a typical scenario of the pulpit pimp v. Christian crusader syndrome. Money talks."

One of the ministers, Rev. Reginald Jackson, the powerful executive director of the Black Ministers' Council of New Jersey, is a longtime Corzine backer who says he struggled with an endorsement this year. 

"I have not in the past and am not today making this endorsement lightly.  This endorsement is made after much wrestling and soul searching. But it is an endorsement that I strongly make," Jackson said yesterday.  "It's hard to be popular in tough economic times, but to his credit Jon Corzine has made the tough calls."

Jackson and another minister, Rev. David Jefferson, both wrote personal checks to Corzine's re-election campaign earlier this year.

In 2000, Corzine denied that a $25,000 contribution his charitable foundation made to Jackson's church was connected to Jackson's support of his U.S. Senate bid.  Five years later, Jackson denied that his support of Corzine's gubernatorial bid was linked to a $50,000 loan he received from Corzine; the loan was later forgiven.

Three influential African American ministers, Rev. Reginald Jackson, Rev. Dr. David Jefferson Sr. and Rev. Dr. Calvin McKinney, today endorsed Gov. Jon Corzine for re-election.

 "I have not in the past and am not today making this endorsement lightly.  This endorsement is made after much wrestling and soul searching. But it is an endorsement that I strongly make," Jackson said.  " It's hard to be popular in tough economic times, but to his credit Jon Corzine has made the tough calls.:

The Rev. Reginald Jackson, the Executive Director of the Black Ministers' Council of New Jersey, has endorsed Sheila Oliver (D-East Orange) for Assembly Speaker, according to a Star-Ledger report.  The only other candidate in the race is Bonnie Watson Coleman (D-Ewing), who is also African American.

At a news conference to announce his support, Oliver denied that there was any deal that linked her candidacy for Speaker to the campaign of Stephen Sweeney (D-West Deptford) for Senate President.

"The Senate does what the Senate does and the General Assembly does what the General Assembly does. There is no trade-off," the Star-Ledger reported Oliver as saying.

And Jackson denied speculation that Oliver was a pawn in a political chess game being played by George Norcross, Stephen Adubato and other state Democratic leaders.

"We have heard rumors that she will be controlled by other folk.  The Sheila Oliver that we know will not be controlled or told what to do, but will do what is best for the citizens of New Jersey, Jackson said.

Last week, Oliver told PolitickerNJ.com that she is the "most independent person ever elected."

IRVINGTON - They bellowed a lot of praise down on Gov. Jon Corzine from the pulpit of Christian Love Baptist Church on Wednesday night but the signature hymn, "Your struggle is over," sung with deep feeling and a full chorus on high volume, hardly projected a Biblical battle cry as the governor faces eight weeks more of hard-slog campaign season before Election Day.

When the big baskets appeared and it was collection time, Pastor Ron Christian made sure Corzine knew the drill.

"You never know when he might leave," joked the reverend, host for the governor, an altar filled with other emissaries of ecumenism, among them the Rev. Pastor Reginald Jackson of St. Matthew AME Church - and other public officials all gathered to salute law enforcement officers and firemen on the eighth anniversary of Sept. 11, 2001.

There was a lot of love for Corzine throughout the course of the ceremony, which Christian stoked even as he deflected any of the praise directed at himself and his thriving Irvington church by reminding the congegation - to growing applause - that he's just a simple sinner - a former corrections officer turned thief, in fact, turned repentant minister.