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Ministry got $600,000 from Corzine's charity

TRENTON - Gov. Corzine's charity donated $4.2 million last year, including $600,000 to a South Jersey minister featured in a television program shown on Black Entertainment Television and other networks.

TRENTON - Gov. Corzine's charity donated $4.2 million last year, including $600,000 to a South Jersey minister featured in a television program shown on Black Entertainment Television and other networks.

Corzine gave Bishop David G. Evans' ministry three separate payments last year - two $250,000 donations and a $100,000 donation, according to income-tax returns released yesterday by the governor's office.

Evans runs the evangelical ministry from Voorhees and broadcasts his ministry through his Dominion Television network.

Corzine, a multimillionaire, has often been criticized for donating to black ministers because they have endorsed him in his political campaigns.

Besides the donations to Evans' ministry, Corzine also, through his charity, gave a $240,000 loan to the St. James Preparatory School run by the Rev. William Watley, who was state commerce secretary under former Gov. Jim McGreevey.

Watley is pastor of St. James AME Church in Newark. He resigned as commerce secretary amid alleged conflict questions, and his top aide was indicted on corruption charges.

"His support of Rev. Watley reflects the same goals and commitments he's made in other areas of the state," Corzine spokeswoman Lilo Stainton said.

Corzine donated $3.8 million to charity through his foundation in 2005.