Corzine is better choice for governor

PACKET EDITORIAL, Nov. 1

By: Packet Editorial
   It is tempting, on the basis of the campaigns they have run, to characterize the choice for governor of New Jersey between Democrat Jon Corzine and Republican Doug Forrester as the lesser of two evils.
   If we paid attention only to their TV commercials — which are insulting not only to each other but, most of all, to the intelligence of New Jersey’s voters — we would think the pivotal issue in this race is which of these two sleazy, malevolent multi-millionaires is less corrupt, less deceitful and less tainted by his connection to the most disreputable figures in his political party.
   We have met with both candidates, however, and we know better. We know that both are fundamentally good, decent men. We know that both have taken the time, and used their considerable intellect, to study the issues and carve out policy positions that are generally (though not entirely) within the political mainstream of New Jersey. And we are confident that either of them would make a good governor.
   But because both have run campaigns that are beneath them — and the voters — we fear that whoever wins will take office having stained the reputation of the state he is about to lead. Political corruption is a problem in New Jersey, to be sure, but the fact that it has registered as the No. 2 issue on voters’ minds in recent polls (trailing only property taxes) is, in our judgment, a reflection of the candidates’ obsessive attention to it on the campaign trail. It’s hard for the voters to muster a lot of enthusiasm — and it may be even harder for the next governor to project an image of honesty and integrity — when so much mud has been slung leading up to Election Day.
   Nevertheless, the next governor will have to govern. He will have to do something about the state’s antiquated, inequitable tax structure; replenish the Transportation Trust Fund; provide sufficient funding for the public schools to offer the thorough and efficient education mandated by the state constitution; determine whether New Jersey will take a leadership role in embryonic stem-cell research; and end the practice of pay-to-play at all levels of government. On all of these issues, we find Sen. Corzine to be the more credible candidate.
   On the tax issue in particular, Sen. Corzine’s call for a special session of the Legislature, to be followed by a citizens’ convention on property taxes, is a sensible, pragmatic approach to reform. It stands in stark contrast to Mr. Forrester’s assertion that state rebates will reduce homeowners’ property taxes by 30 percent over the next three years — with the money coming from the elimination of unspecified fraud, waste and abuse in unidentified state programs.
   Likewise, Mr. Forrester’s plan to replenish the Transportation Trust Fund relies on shifting general revenues away from ongoing programs — again, without specifying which programs would suffer budget cuts — while Sen. Corzine acknowledges that the state may have to take the unpopular but necessary step of raising the gasoline tax, which is now among the lowest in the country.
   On embryonic stem-cell research, Sen. Corzine is light years ahead of Mr. Forrester, laying out a bold plan for making New Jersey the California of the East Coast in this exciting field — which holds great promise not only for humanitarian reasons, but also as a potentially powerful generator of economic growth for the state. Mr. Forrester opposes embryonic stem-cell research — the only major issue, in our view, on which he deviates substantially from New Jersey’s moderate mainstream.
   As this unpleasant race heads — mercifully — toward the finish line, we encourage voters to place the candidates’ positions on these and other important issues ahead of their shabby campaign tactics. On this basis, we recommend a vote for Jon Corzine for governor.