TRENTON, N.J.(RNS) A politically connected New Jersey pastor received almost $90,000 in donations last year from incumbent Gov. Jon Corzine, who is running for re-election.

The Rev. Reginald Jackson, who last week announced he was throwing his coveted support to Corzine, received $87,000 in donations from the multimillionaire governor last year, Jackson confirmed.

Head of the influential Black Ministers Council, Jackson is a key player in state politics. His endorsement — which has gone to both Democrats and Republicans over the years — is highly sought.

According to Corzine’s 2008 tax returns, the governor made a $50,000 donation to Jackson’s congregation, St. Matthew African Methodist Episcopal Church in Orange, N.J. Corzine gave another $37,000 to St. Matthew from his philanthropic foundation, Jackson said. He explained the smaller sum was contributed early in 2008 and the $50,000 was donated in July last year, shortly after the governor began raising money for his re-election campaign.

The contributions were the latest in a series of high-priced offerings Corzine has made to Jackson in the decade since the governor left Wall Street. They came to light after Corzine gave The Star-Ledger access to review his 2008 tax return, filed last week.

Jackson said his endorsement of Corzine had nothing to do with the governor’s generosity.

“I always support who I believe is the best candidate,” said Jackson, who stressed that he has had a long relationship with Corzine’s main rival, Republican Chris Christie. “In this particular race between Corzine and Chris Christie, if there are 10 issues, Jon Corzine and I are in agreement on nine of them. Chris Christie and I probably agree on three of them. It was a very difficult decision to make,” he said.

Jackson said the $37,000 went to the congregation’s development corporation, which aids people with housing and health-care assistance. The larger sum was a contribution to Jackson’s unsuccessful second run for African Methodist Episcopal bishop.

Corzine spokesman Sean Darcy said he did not have information about the smaller donation because records on Corzine’s philanthropic foundation have not been filed with the IRS. He stressed the governor does not hide his generosity.

“We make his personal tax returns and the foundation’s tax returns publicly available as soon as they are ready,” Darcy said.