Not even in office, Torricelli still torches pols

Former US Sen. Bob "Torch" Torricelli is in the news again.

This time for making donations from his campaign fund. Though most of the $900,00 he has donated (out of a total of $2.9M) went to nonprofits and charities, the papers have picked up on a couple of interesting POLITICAL contributions in New Jersey.

The Times of Trenton focuses on a contribution to the campaign of Mayor Doug Palmer and several city councilors. Torricelli gave $10,000 to the campaign.

At the time, Lambertville-based Woodrose Properties, in which Torricelli is a partner, was engaged in dealing with the city over redeveloping several properties.

Palmer swears the quids and the quos don't align, but I am nevertheless intrigued -- as always -- by the sale of a property the City of Trenton bought for $149,000 to the developer for $1. That, plus the assorted extra funds and considerations Woodrose got from the city.

Meanwhile, over in Jersey City, the Jersey Journal points out that "Torch" gave a council slate backed by Bayonne Mayor (and Assemblyman) Joe Doria $5,000 -- at a time when he had business before the Legislature involving his client Verizon.

Guess the outcome of his Trenton business.

---

More details --

• The Times of Trenton: "Torricelli money went to Palmer"
  
• The Jersey Journal: "Doria: Wasn't influenced by Torricelli's donation"
  

-- Dan Damon

View today's CLIPS here. Not getting your own CLIPS email daily? Click here to subscribe.

ARCHIVED POSTS OF PLAINFIELD TODAY FROM 11/03/2005 THROUGH 12/31/2006 ARE AT
http://plainfieldtoday.blogspot.com/