Forrester for Governor

5 Reasons Why Jon Corzine Won't Buck George Norcross and the Rest of the Party Bosses

The Forrester for Governor campaign today offered up the following five reasons why Jon Corzine can't - and won't - repudiate George Norcross and the party bosses...FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
October 27, 2005
Contact: Sherry Sylvester
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210.241.5296

5 Reasons Why Jon Corzine Won't Buck George Norcross and the Rest of the Party Bosses

(WEST WINDSOR, NJ) - The Forrester for Governor campaign today offered up the following five reasons why Jon Corzine can't - and won't - repudiate George Norcross and the party bosses:

1) George Norcross says "the McGreeveys, the Corzines...they'll all be with me" - no surprise there considering Corzine gave Norcross-controlled committees approximately $1 million - clearly they see eye-to-eye.[i]

2) Corzine on 10/11/05: "John Adler will not be my attorney general. We will pick the very best..."[ii]

Corzine on 10/12/05: "I consider John Adler to be among the best and brightest..."[iii]

Apparently, what's good for Norcross is good for Corzine - Camden County Democrat John Adler is widely perceived to be Norcross's personal representative in the State Senate.

3) Despite fervent protests from the environmental community, Corzine hired Susan Bass Levin, the architect of the "Fast Track" legislation, to head his campaign. Levin was hired by Jim McGreevey to head the Department of Consumer Affairs, where she fired 22 Republican-hired state employees for discernibly political reasons, claiming they were "not qualified," then hired 38 Democrat loyalists -costing the state $1.25 million to settle wrongful termination claims.[iv]

4) Despite the fact that Bob Torricelli left the U.S. Senate in disgrace over conflicts of interest and illegal gifts, Torricelli still remains Corzine's go-to-guy on "a number of policy and campaign matters" and is a "behind-the-scenes advisor and a strategic sounding board for the candidate."[v]

5) And who can forget Corzine’s business buddy and convicted felon Charlie Kushner? Corzine accepted $28,000 from convicted felon Kushner and family after the Kushner/Corzine group’s failed attempt to buy the New Jersey Nets with a taxpayer subsidy.[vi]

[i] George Norcross, "Palmyra Tapes," January 3, 2001.

[ii] "John Adler will not be my attorney general. We will pick the very best individual, with the skills to make sure we carry out an executive order to clean up politics in this state." [Corzine speaking at Gannett's Tuesday, October 11th debate, quoted by Jonathan Tamari, "Candidates spar on issues: Corzine, Forrester clash at Gannett New Jersey editors' debate," Asbury Park Press, 10/12/05.]

[iii] "In the story about my interview with Gannett editors, I did not intend to imply that I considered John Adler unqualified to be Attorney General of New Jersey. In fact, I consider John Adler to be among the best and brightest legal minds in public service today. I believe he does an outstanding job as Chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee and I admire his leadership in ethics reform, particularly his bill to impose mandatory prison terms and to cancel pension benefits for public officials who are convicted of felonies. Senator Adler is eminently qualified by virtue of his education, ability, temperament and accomplishments for any public office. Any interpretation of my comments to suggest otherwise would be incorrect." [Corzine statement released Wednesday, October 12th, quoted by Jonathan Tamari, "Corzine: Despite comments, Adler qualified for position," Asbury Park Press, 10/13/2005]

[iv] Rick Hepp, The Star-Ledger, "State admits $1.25M settlement of suit over 6 'patronage firings'," May 6, 2005.
The Home News Tribune, "Probe agency's firings, hirings," May 10, 2005.

[v] David Kocieniewski and Josh Benson, The New York Times, "The Shadow on Corzine's Race Is His History With Torricelli," October 18, 2005.
Josh Benson, The New York Times, "Grasping at flaws," March 6, 2005.
David Kinney, The Star-Ledger, "Forrester must offset Torricelli's war chest," June 10, 2002.

[vi] ELEC records.