Mayor Torres forgoes re-appointing close ally to the Paterson Parking Authority board
By Jayed Rahman
Published: June 2, 2015
Mayor Jose “Joey” Torres last month decided to not re-appoint his close ally lobbyist Idida Rodriguez to the Paterson Parking Authority board. Rodriguez has been serving on the authority’s board since 2009, according to city records.
Torres appointed a former division of health employee Ventura Padilla as her replacement in April. Tony Perez, director of the authority, said Rodriguez’s term expired last year, but she remained as a holdover until the mayor appointed Padilla.
Rodriguez’s five-year term expired on May 31st, 2014, according to city records.
Padilla currently works as field service supervisor for the New Jersey Department of Human Services, Division of Family Development.
Insiders have said Rodriguez may have stepped down because she did not wish to file a state financial disclosure statement for her parking authority post. State records show, Rodriguez has filed the 2014 financial disclosure statement, but the searchable database does not display anything for 2015.
Rodriguez did not respond to a message seeking to find out whether she submitted her 2015 financial disclosure statement for the parking authority post.
She also serves on state local finance board, where she was appointed in January 13th, 2009 by then governor Jon Corzine, according to state records. New Jersey Ethics Commission database shows she has submitted her 2015 financial disclosure statement for her local finance board post.
Torres appointed Rodriguez to the authority’s board on June 1st, 2009, according to city records.
Torre did not take questions on forging re-appointing Rodriguez.
Rodriguez is a partner in the lobbying firm 1868 Public Affairs alongside powerful South Jersey Republican Party chairman George Gilmore. She was able to secure a business administrator job in Jackson Township when Torres suffered defeat at the hands of former mayor Jeffery Jones in 2010.
Rodriguez was also a visible presence in Torres’ 2014 mayoral campaign when he successfully retook the city’s highest office.
Torres’ secretary released a statement from the mayor about the parking authority appointment: “Vincent Padilla is my appointment to the Parking Authority as his professional trajectory, experience in government and strong work ethics make him an excellent candidate to serve as a representative before this Authority.”