newjerseynewsroom.com

BY JOSH McMAHON

NEWJERSEYNEWSROOM.COM

COMMENTARY

Here's the "duh" take away from the historic school board elections: The people aren't happy.

Clearly taxpayers want to disabuse politicians of the notion that they can be tapped over and over again for the shopping cart loads of money needed to keep an already bloated government waddling along.

They want property taxes brought under control. They think teachers and government workers are out of touch with economic reality. They want meaningful change and they're not willing to wait years for it to happen.

Voters yelled those messages to politicians on Tuesday.

Not only did the angry mob rejected a record number of school budgets (59 percent) but also turnout was in the neighborhood of 30 percent. That almost matches the numbers for legislative and gubernatorial elections. (Imagine what the results would have been if the elections were held in November.)

Despite the volume of voters' voices, it remains to be seen whether the politicians really heard them. Those who didn't could find voters tuning them out the next time they seek re-election. As the November election showed, the public is not wiling to settle for more of the same old and they won't be fooled by claims of change that never really happen.

The problem for politicians is what do they do now. Standing pat certainly isn't an option and neither is poking holes in an opponent's proposal while offering nothing substantive.

The savvy politician will get out in front of the reform crusade — the one that's peopled with legions of angry voters. He or she will show the way to significant change.

So far, only Gov. Chris Christie, an astute reader of the public mood and a master of public communication, has been spotted carrying the populist banner for tossing out the old and trying something new.

But the issue is whether he can do more than just rile up the troops. Can he deliver solutions?

With the exception of Senate President Stephen Sweeney and maybe a couple of others, Democrats aren't known for being very perceptive of the zeitgeist. It takes a cataclysm like the school elections to get them to start thinking about change — and even that doesn't always do it.

They probably will be content to sit back, await his proposals and then point out what's wrong. That's been their game plan for the budget.

But even they must know that won't work when it comes to facing the angry mob that materialized on Tuesday

In the initial aftermath of the school elections, the politicians and others have taken to squabbling.

Christie, mustering up as much modesty as he possible can, says he didn't do anything special. He just gave voice to the frustration people have with the ever-increasing property taxes.

Of course, he continuously pointed out that those taxes are fueled by the refusal of the New Jersey Education Association to be reasonable and agree to wage freezes and other concessions.

The teachers' union claims it was the public's fury with higher property taxes that resulted in the unprecedented budget defeats. And Christie, with his education aid cuts, is directly responsible.

Democrats like that reasoning also.

All that bickering misses the point. Voters want something to happen and woe to any politician who doesn't listen.

Budgets weren't the only ones defeated in the school elections. Scores of incumbent board members were given termination notices. Voters clearly were paying attention to who was responsible.

Christie, it appears, realizes that if he can capitalize on voter outrage he can accomplish what would be radical change for New Jersey.

He is preparing legislation to be on the desks of the lawmakers next month when they return from the budget recess.

His proposals call for, among other things, a constitutional amendment limiting annual property tax increases to 2.5. He also wants to roll back the 9 percent pension increase granted by the Legislature to government workers in 2001. And he wants to make changes to collective bargaining procedures to eliminate the disadvantage local governments and school boards face when negotiating contracts with unions.

He's sure to hear vociferous objections but Tuesday's results undoubtedly will mute some of the moaning.

Still, having a plan isn't enough.

Christie certainly was instrumental in amplifying the discontent. It will be hard for him to tune it down now.

He needs to produce the radical change that he's been promising, that he says is needed. In the days after the election he has boldly reiterate a promise to reduce the property tax burden by the end of his term.

Former Gov. Jon Corzine made similar promises. (Emphasis deliberate.)

Christie has got to know that if he fails to deliver Tuesday's angry mob of voters will come looking for him.

And Democrats have to know that if they try to thwart change voters will be on their tails, too.

That's the "duh" message every politician must read in the wake of the historic 2010 school elections.

Josh McMahon was a member of The Star-Ledger's editorial board and prior to that had served as the newspaper's political editor. He may be reached at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it