The Nov. 5 election is quickly approaching, and Gov. Chris Christie and Democratic gubernatorial candidate Barbara Buono are campaigning steadfastly, throwing jabs at one another whenever they can as they travel around the state.
Twenty-four days before the election, Christie, after traveling to Washington D.C., for the 2013 Points of Light Tribute Awards the prior night, spoke at the Oct. 12 Latino Leadership Alliance of New Jersey (LLANJ) gala in New Brunswick.
LLANJ President Martin Perez introduced the Republican governor, informing the crowd of at least 350 attendees that four years ago, the organization, which is the largest Latino advocacy group in New Jersey, did not endorse Christie.
“His feelings may have been hurt,” he said, looking over at Christie.
Christie quipped that Perez was right that he was hurt, bringing laughs from the crowd.
Still, Christie said, after the 2009 election, the two shook hands and got to work.
“It was all about fixing what is broken. … We may not all agree and be happy all the time, but I believe in not abandoning friends,” the governor said. “These past four years, we built a foundation — an alliance — and there is still a lot more to do.”
Christie spoke about education and giving opportunities to those children living in failing school districts, regardless of one’s economic status. The Opportunity Scholarship Act, funded by corporate tax credits, would empower the parents of children in failing schools to choose public or nonpublic schools that will best serve the needs of their children.
The bill failed in the legislative process in 2012. Christie said Buono opposes the bill and added that the opposition is from someone who would not send her children to failing schools.
He said the proposal is not a knock on the public school system.
“I’m a product of the public school system; however, not addressing the issue would be immoral. We have a moral obligation,” he said.
Christie said this can happen if all factions work together. He said the opponents’ rationale that some parents may not be interested does not make sense.
“This is failed thinking,” he said. “It’s like saying there’s 10 children that are drowning, let them all drown because it’s not fair to only save some. … It is our obligation to not sit by and have schools fail.”
Christie said he came out alive when he visited Washington, D.C., on Oct. 11, and he feels that both parties have been disgraceful and deserving of blame for the government shutdown. A deal was struck on Oct. 16, and federal employees returned to work on Oct. 17.
He said now is the time to grab the hands of those who are running and speak on issues that are important.
On Oct. 14, also in New Brunswick, Buono stood next to her candidate for lieutenant governor, Milly Silva, and Democratic National Chairwoman Debbie Wasserman Schultz during a rally held at her headquarters in the old Rutgers University bookstore on Penn Plaza. Buono and Silva compose the third allfemale ticket in state history. Schultz discussed her enthusiasm for the Buono-Silva ticket and said Christie cannot erase the fact that New Jersey has one of the highest unemployment rates in nation. She said the lack of jobs is crippling the middle class.
Buono said she has defied many odds as a female politician, moving from an assemblywoman to state senator.
“I was the first chairwoman to sit on the Budget and Appropriations Committee and the first female majority leader,” the Metuchen native said, adding that she understands that this time around, there is a bigger mountain to climb. She said that, having defied odds and overcome obstacles all her life, she is chugging along.
“I’m tough, dogged and I never ever give up,” she said, noting that her father was an immigrant Italian butcher. “I am the American dream, I am the little guy, the underdog. … I relish and embrace the fight.”
Buono said that under Christie’s administration, property taxes have continued to increase and the state is still second in foreclosure rates.
She said it was shocking that the governor vetoed background checks for people purchasing guns after the news of mass shootings across the country, and that he has not supported gay marriage.
“I am focused to do the right thing,” she said.
Polls will be open 6 a.m. to 8 p.m. Nov. 5.
Contact Kathy Chang at [email protected].