Plea eclipses long political career

[rusty charly]

In the 1840s, Patrick Corrigan emigrated from Ireland and went to work helping construct the city's sewer system. While he chopped through roots under the city sidewalks, he would at the same time plant family roots.

Nearly a century later, in 1938, his granddaughter, Evelyn Rooney Lynch, gave birth to John A. Lynch Jr., who would play a significant role in the city's history and be hailed as a principal architect of its recent revival.

Lynch would follow in his father's footsteps, becoming mayor of the city, president of the state Senate and a major player in state politics, and the reputed political boss of Middlesex County politics.

But whatever good deeds there were in the eyes of many, these were eclipsed Friday, when he pleaded guilty to federal corruption charges. In a deal with the U.S. Attorney's Office, he is expected to be sentenced in December to federal prison for between 33 and 41 months.

While Lynch crafted a lucrative career as an attorney with success not in small ways owing to his political connections, he maintained a passion for the political arena. When the U.S. Attorney's investigation became known in November, he said it was the result of his high political profile.

http://www.app.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060917/NEWS03/609170470/1007

[LiberalEsto]

1. Total sleazebag

I don't live in NJ any more, but I watched Johnny-Boy Lynch - as mayor of New Brunswick in the early 80s -- work hand in glove with J&J to demolish livable neighborhoods and downtown businesses, "sanitizing" the downtown to suit corporate sensibilities. The rest of the city was left to rot.

I'm just surprised the feds nailed him -- I didn't think anyone had the guts to go after him. Finding out about it made my day.

It's strongly tempting to send him a card saying Congratulations!I always knew you would do it.

:rofl: