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Former U.S. attorney becomes first Republican to win governor's office in 12 years
BY TOM HESTER SR.
NEWJERSEYNEWSROOM.COM
Republican Chris Christie, the former corruption-busting U.S. attorney for New Jersey, won the the gubernatorial election Tuesday night over incumbent Democratic Gov. Jon Corzine.
Christie will take office Jan. 19 as the first Republican governor of Democratic-dominated New Jersey since Christie Whitman won a second term in 1997.
The victory cannot be considered an upset since the race was considered too close to call when voting began.
With 99 percent of the vote reported, Christie beat Corzine 1,132,689 to 1,026,899. Independent Chris Daggett received 132,181 votes. Christie picked up 49 percent of the vote. Corzine came in with 45 percent while Daggett received about six percent.
Less than 50 percent of New Jersey's 5.2 million registered voters turned out.
The Democrats, however, retained their eight-year-long control of the Assembly so when Christie takes office, he will have to deal with the opposing party's majority when attempting to move his proposed programs in the lower house and the Senate.Voters also narrowly gave the financially strapped state government, which is $38 billion in debt, permission to sell $400 million in bonds to fund another round of open space, farmland and historic preservation. The open space question was approved 811,395 to 741,213.
During his concession speech, Corzine said the defeat put an end to his decade-long political career, nearly four as governor and six as a New Jersey U.S. senator. The multi-millionaire former Wall Street financier spent millions of his personal wealth on seeking election, including at least $22.6 million in this election.
Carried into office with Christie as New Jersey's first lieutenant governor was Monmouth County Sheriff Kim Guadagno, 50, of Monmouth Beach, a former federal and state prosecutor. She will be first in line for the governor's chair should it be vacated during the next four years.
To applause, chants of "Yes we can,'' and the music of Bruce Springsteen's "Born to Run,'' Christie began a 15-minute victory address at the Hilton-Parsippany at 11:15 p.m.
"Hey, New Jersey, we did it,'' he shouted.
Urging supporters not to boo the mention of Corzine's name, Christie thanked the governor for his years of service.
Noting that he was born in Newark 47 years ago where his parents rented an apartment, he said his family moved to Livingston so he and his siblings could receive a quality education.
"Tomorrow we begin fixing our broken state and I can tell you Kim and I are ready for the task. The campaign we just went through will seem easy compared to the challenges we face in this state.''- Chris Christie "It was my parents and education that gave me the values that enable me to stand before you tonight as the 55th governor of the state of New Jersey,'' Christie said. "This election tonight is not about me, it is not about (Corzine); this election is about the future of the state we love, the great state of New Jersey. You see, because for me and most of you, we already have a great New Jersey life. What we want to do is make sure everyone in New Jersey has an opportunity for a great New Jersey life and make sure our children and grandchildren have a great New Jersey life.
"The future will be difficult, we face a lot of problems,'' Christie said, "but standing here tonight I will tell you that Kim and I will get to work to make that happen (a better New Jersey life) starting tomorrow. Because tomorrow, together we begin to take back New Jersey. Tomorrow, we are going to take back New Jersey for our families, for our friends, for our neighbors, for the least fortunate among us who don't want government to fix every problem. They just want a hand up so they can obtain opportunity for themselves. Tomorrow we begin to build a New Jersey for our children and our grandchildren because I want my children to raise their children in this state.
"So tomorrow we begin fixing our broken state and I can tell you Kim and I are ready for the task. The campaign we just went through will seem easy compared to the challenges we face in this state. The next four years will be difficult. There are no easy answers but starting tomorrow, we are going to pick Trenton up and turn it upside down.
"We need to make New Jersey more affordable and we need to do it now. There will be naysayers who will say Kim and I will not be able to lower taxes and get government back under control. These are the same people who eight years ago said you could not fight corruption in New Jersey. They were wrong then and they are wrong now. Kim and I will do it without regard to party or politics and without regard to what part of the state you are from. New Jersey's problems are too big anymore to conduct the petty politics of yesterday. Kim and I will figure out how to get it done.''
Christie concluded by saying that for years "talking heads'' have maintained a candidate had to conduct a negative campaign to win in New Jersey.
"I did not follow my opponents into the gutter,'' he said. "I worked too hard over my life to give away my integrity for any job let alone this one. Let me tell you this. Through their overwhelming support tonight the people of New Jersey said no more negative, personal campaigns. In the face of a $30-million onslaught that consisted almost exclusively of a negative campaign against me, my family and my friends, the people of New Jersey decided enough is enough. Let's turn the page, let's put the petty politics of the past behind us and start a new era of hope in New Jersey. By the end of these four years, I promise you one thing we will restore your hope, your faith, your trust in New Jersey.''
In introducing Christie, Guadagno told the crowd, "I promised you change and tonight ladies and gentlemen we are going to see change like we have never seen before. Ladies and gentlemen there is hope. There is hope for less takes, hope for change, hope for a better New Jersey.''
Corzine conceded at 10:55 p.m. at his headquarters at the Hilton-East Brunswick.
In a five-minute concession speech, the governor said he is leaving politics but would continue to fight for Democratic principles and issues.
