newjerseynewsroom.com

Says Mary Pat told him not to ‘even think about' returning to New Jersey

Gov. Chris Christie roared into New Jersey like a blizzard Friday, saying he directed the state government's response to the snowstorm from his Disney World hotel room and criticized Democrats and the news media for raising the issue of his week-long absence.

The governor told reporters at a press conference in Freehold that he had promised his children that he would take them to the Florida resort during Christmas and didn't want to break the promise. He argued that since he took a commercial airline to Florida, it would have likely been impossible for him to return to the state earlier.

"I wouldn't change the decision even if I could do it right now," Christie said. "I had a great five days with my children. I promised that."

"I would have been doing the same thing here as I was there," Christie said. "I would not have been out driving a plow. I would be in a room somewhere on a telephone. That's exactly the same thing I was doing in Florida."

The governor said he made hourly phone calls to State Police and state Department of Transportation officials.

"You can decide to be a showboat, hop on a plow and act like you're doing something or you can actually put leadership skills to work that put competent people with good character in important positions," Christie said.

In his role as state Democratic chairman, Assemblyman John Wisniewski (D-Middlesex) said Christie is attempting to blame others for snowstorm-related problems, while accepting no responsibility for his absence.

"The governor must still be in Fantasyland, where he thinks Tinker Bell can wave her magic want and have everyone forget he went on vacation instead of staying to do his job during an emergency," Wisniewski said. "Maybe since he does his governing by YouTube, Christie didn't think he needed to be present in New Jersey or even offer comment until he finally returned from the Magic kingdom six days after the storm hit."

The governor said Lt. Gov. Kim Guadagno is on a two-week cruise with her cancer-stricken father and the rest of her family. He said her father organized the trip given the possibility that it could be his last Christmas.

Christie said criticism of his decision to remain in Florida came from Democrats and the media. "All of the Monday morning quarterbacking and the harping and complaining should just take a breath," he said.

The governor said it was not the state government's responsibility to dig stranded New Jerseyans out of side streets in cities and towns.

"I would give the folks in New Jersey state government and the county government an A for the effort we put in," he said. "We probably get a B for results. The governor added that the state DOT received no requests from mayors to help clear local roads.

"If you live in the Northeast this is going to happen sometimes," Christie said. "We just have to be the tough New Jerseyans that we are and grit our teeth and get through it."

— TOM HESTER SR., NEWJERSEYNEWSROOM.COM