newjerseynewsroom.com

Will attend GOP governors' meeting instead

BY TOM HESTER SR.

NEWJERSEYNEWSROOM.COM

Thousands of New Jersey government officials will be in Atlantic City beginning Tuesday for the annual four-day New Jersey State League of Municipalities Convention but Gov. Chris Christie will not be one of them.

Citing a scheduling conflict, the governor's staff has told League officials, Christie will not attend the convention's biggest event, a sold out luncheon set for Thursday at the Sheraton Convention Center Hotel where in the past governors have provided the keynote address.

The governor's office told NewJerseyNewsroom.com that Christie would be attending a meeting of the Republican Governors Association.

Instead, Lt. Gov. Kim Guadagno will speak at the luncheon and at the Women in Government breakfast earlier in the day.

Gov.-elect Christie made the luncheon last year as did outgoing Gov. Gov. Jon Corzine.

"On occasion, governor's have had conflicts and could not attend," League Director Bill Dressel said Friday. "I think Governors McGreevey, Whitman, Kean and Byrne missed at least one during my tenure. Richard Bagger (Christie's chief of staff) called me back in late August to inform me of the conflict and that he would work with me.

"As it turned out Lieutenant Governor Guadagno is speaking at our Women in Government Breakfast and at the Thursday League luncheon," Dressel said. "Our meal ticket sales are doing very well in fact I think we will break last year's attendance. Maybe it's the fact that she is a former municipal official but Lieutenant Governor Guadagno really connects with our audience and we are not slighted in the least."

Earlier this month, Christie and state Acting Education Commissioner Rochelle Hendricks boycotted the annual New Jersey Education Association convention in Atlantic City as part of their ongoing war of words with the teachers' union over the governor's education proposals.

The League convention, through no fault of League organizers, has garnered unsought fame for corrupt political dealings and scandalous affairs that have occurred on the side. The gathering is also notable for the parties hosted by politicians, businesses and lobbyists that occur in nearby hotels.

The convention, with the theme "Planning the Road Ahead, will be the League's 95th.

More than 100 sessions will cover a wide range of topics, including Christie‘s proposed "tool kit" for reducing government spending, ethics, affordable housing, economic development, technology, budgeting, shared services and other key municipal issues.

On Wednesday, state Senate President Stephen M. Sweeney (D-Gloucester), Sen. Thomas H. Kean, Jr. (R-Essex), Assembly Speaker Sheila Y. Oliver (D-Essex), Senate Majority Leader Barbara Buono (D-Middlesex), and Assembly Republican Leader Alex DeCroce (R-Morris) will speak to local officials about legislative action affecting local government.

"The League conference provides invaluable information and networking opportunities to all New Jersey elected and appointed officials," Clifton Mayor James Anzaldi, League president, said. "By gathering for a week of learning, leaders are fulfilling a critical part of their responsibilities to the citizens of New Jersey."

More than 900 companies and agencies that provide goods and services will be on hand so municipal officials can compare services and look for the best bargains on behalf of their property taxpayers.

Also on Wednesday, Anzaldi, state Treasurer Andrew Sidamon-Eristoff, state Community Affairs Commissioner Lori Grifa, state Environmental Protection Commissioner Robert Martin, state Transportation Commissioner James Simpson and Hendricks will address a luncheon.

At the main luncheon on Thursday, distinguished service awards will be presented to former governors Thomas H. Kean and James J. Florio.