A Paramus man claiming to work for Gov. Jon Corzine's reelection campaign was arrested Friday night on drug charges after police found Ecstasy tablets in his car, authorities said."What're you doing with these, bub?"
"I'm a Democrat."
A Corzine spokeswoman said the man does not work for either the governor's campaign or the Democratic State Committee.
"Never heard of him!"
Jason Shih, 25, was pulled over on Route 17 by East Rutherford police at about 11:30 p.m. last night for talking on his cell phone. Police found 19 Ecstasy tablets and hundreds of small glassine bags used for distributing drugs, police spokesman Capt. William Schanel said.
Schanel said Shih told police he was an official in Corzine's campaign, and several tickets to tomorrow's rally with President Obama at Newark's Prudential Center were found in his car. "As he's exiting the vehicle, he's stating it's not mine," Schanel said. "He just said I'm assistant deputy director of Gov. Corzine's campaign, and they rented this vehicle for my use."
Schanel said the vehicle was rented, but said it is unclear who rented it. He said Shih is not suspected of being under the influence of drugs or alcohol -- just very nervous. "His hands were shaking," Schanel said.
Corzine campaign spokeswoman Lis Smith said Shih's claim is false. "No one has ever heard of this guy," she said.
Campaign finance records do not show any donations from Shih to political candidates in New Jersey.