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TagsMonmouth County Sheriff a former U.S. attorney
BY TOM HESTER SR.
NEWJERSEYNEWSROOM.COM
Republican gubernatorial candidate Chris Christie announced Monday that he has chosen Monmouth County Sheriff Kimberly "Kim'' Guadagno as his candidate for lieutenant governor, a selection that will make her his running mate on the Nov. 3 ballot.
The selection puts a woman from Republican-leaning and vote-rich Monmouth County on the ballot to possibly become New Jersey's first lieutenant governor, a position that will be second only to the governor.
Guadagno, 50, of Monmouth Beach, was elected sheriff in 2007. She was an assistant U.S. attorney in Newark and Brooklyn for 15 years and prosecuted such high-profile defendants as Essex County Executive Thomas D'Allessio in 1994 and Somerset County Prosecutor Nicholas Bissell in 1995. She later served as assistant director of the state Division of Criminal Justice.
Her husband is state Superior Court Judge Michael Guadagno, who was appointed to the bench in 2006. The couple has three sons, ages 8 to 16.Guadagno said she is proud to be selected as Christie's running mate.
"As a federal prosecutor and later as Monmouth County sheriff, I had to make tough decisions, Guadagno said. "This is the time in New Jersey's history where we have to make tough decisions.''
Christie said Guadagno "Has the executive experience New Jerseyans need in their lieutenant governor.''
The candidates are on the road Monday making stops in Asbury Park, Woodbridge and Garfield to announce her selection.
Guadagno was born in Waterloo, Iowa. And attended Ursinus College in Collegeville, Pa. and graduated from American University Law School. She also taught as a law professor at Rutgers University. The candidate has also served as a Monmouth Beach commissioner and as a 15-year member of the town's Board of Adjustment.
On the Democratic side, Gov. Jon Corzine has yet to name his candidate for lieutenant governor. He has until next Monday to make his selection.
As the calendar slips away, the name of state Sen. Loretta Weinberg (D-Bergen) surfaced Monday as a possible choice. Weinberg, 74, of Teaneck, joined the Senate in 2005 after serving in the Assembly. She is considered a fiercely independent legislator.