The Daily Targum's Election Issue 2009

TRENTON THUNDER Chris Christie clinches race against Democrat Jon S. Corzine to become first Republican governor in 12 years

What’s Inside: E2 — On site from Christie victory party E4 — Daggett considers flaws in two-party system E5 — Wards result to be determined E7 — Students react to election E8 — Columnists weigh in on the issues E10 — Report from Corzine’s concession speech

JEFF LAZARO

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JEFF LAZARO

Supporters of Republican Candidate Chris Christie cheer at his election headquarters last night at the Hilton hotel in Parsippany.

Christie addresses the crowd as the governor-elect of New Jersey, defeating incumbent Gov. Jon S. Corzine 49 to 45 percent. Corzine called Christie to congratulate him on his win, ensuring a smooth transition into office.

JEFF LAZARO

JEFF LAZARO

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Christie wins heated election in Garden State

BY CAGRI OZUTURK ASSOCIATE NEWS EDITOR

PARSIPPANY — For the first time in 12 years, there is an elephant in the room.

Republican challenger Chris Christie was declared winner of the New Jersey gubernatorial race by a 4 percent margin, according to reported election results.

“Hey New Jersey, we did it,” Christie said at the New Jersey Republicans’ election party at the Hilton Parsippany.

As the state’s precincts reported their returns when the polls closed last night, Christie, a federal prosecutor, never fell behind.

“The governor [has] called me to congratulate me on winning,” Christie said. “His call was gracious, and he pledged a smooth transition for me.”

He thanked the two former Republican Governors Christie Todd Whitman and Tom Kean who supported him and his family.

“This election is not about me, not about you, it’s about everything we love about the state of New Jersey,” Christie said.

“We’ve already had a great New Jersey life, but what we want to make sure is that everyone in New Jersey and our children have a great New Jersey life.”

He said the same people that

say he will not be able to lower taxes are the same people that say he cannot free New Jersey from corruption.

“Tomorrow we begin to take back New Jersey,” Christie said.

“Tomorrow we have a great deal of work fixing the state of New Jersey. [Lt. governor-elect Kim Guadagno] and I are up to the task. … There are no easy answers to the problems we face.”

Christie said he would approach problems in a bipartisan manner by accepting ideas from both parties.

“Ever ything said about the race before today still remains true,” said Associate Director of the Eagleton Institute of Politics John Weingart. “The economy was an important factor and made the last four years very difficult to be governor. The Republicans chose a very articulate candidate with a great record as U.S. attorney, and Gov. Corzine had never really connected with voters.”

Ron Holden, president of the Rutgers University College Republicans, said Christie would go to Trenton to do a service for the state.

“We can finally bring everything we’ve been fighting for to the state of New Jersey and undo the things that … Corzine did and ever ything [President] Barack Obama does,” said

Holden, a School of Arts and Sciences senior.

Alex Cohen, a Christie Coalition organizer for the University, said every week the College Republicans made more than 1,000 phone calls to people across the state.

“We started ‘Get Out the Vote’ in Rutgers University last Wednesday,” said Cohen, a School of Arts and Sciences junior. “We were in Woodbridge, South Plainfield [and] New Brunswick knocking on doors [and] making phone calls. Rutgers had six to seven people per effort, but we had between 75 to 100 across the state.”

He said endorsements would not have been a deciding factor in this race.

“The state of New Jersey has spoken. They’ve responded to all the troubles of the state of New Jersey such as corruption and high property taxes,” Cohen said.

“This wasn’t Republicans that won this race, this was a bipartisan effort. Barack Obama came, [Vice President] Joe Biden came, [former President] Bill Clinton came, but no one can save [Corzine] from himself.”

Holden said the College Republicans are looking for more members at the University and more visibility.

“The Republican efforts reflect at Rutgers — we’ve had

higher turnouts [and] we’ve had a spike in membership,” he said.

“We got fired up last semester.

There seems to be a new conscious sentiment in everything that’s going on. There’s more going on in events. There is something winnable.”

He said the College Republicans would be more visible in the University.

“We will be legitimatized in Rutgers and reflect that we have a positive message,” Holden said.

“We have a legitimate, good message and [are] not crazy as some Democrats or Corzine would have you believe, and I think that is a motivating factor for people to join us.”

During the campaign, Corzine outspent Christie by double, according to the New Jersey Election Law Enforcement Commission. Christie spent $11.7 million while Corzine spent $23.6 million.

The important part of the campaign was building on the foundation in the streets, said Jay Webber, New Jersey Republican Party chairman.

“Out on the streets, they’re just building on the tremendous success that we’ve built up throughout the campaign,” he said. “Rutgers students, especially in New Brunswick, have been working for months, and they were one of the most energetic

call centers, and some our most successful volunteer nights came out from Rutgers.”

He said they have been very satisfied of the efforts of the Scarlet Knight Republicans.

The Republicans won a landslide victory in the Virginia’s governor race early in the night, but Webber said it was not relevant to the outcome in New Jersey.

“Jerseyans are making their minds up according to the issues important to them,” he said.

In analyzing the Christie win, Weingart said Christie would have a huge set of challenges over the next four years.

“New Jersey finances are still in serious trouble, and all candidates, including Christie, were pretty vague about how they would address that,” Weingart said.

Democrats have a sizable majority in both houses of the legislator in New Jersey, and it would be interesting to see how Christie would work with Democrats in the legislature, he said.

“More will be made nationally than warranted. It seems to me that New Jersey voters were thinking [more] about specific candidates than about party labels or national issues,” Weingart said. “There were so few races this year that national parties and press are likely to overanalyze today’s outcome.”

JEFF LAZARO

JEFF LAZARO

JEFF LAZARO

Governor-elect Chris Christie says he and Lt. Governor-elect Kim Guadagno will not waste any time addressing New Jersey’s issues in a bipartisan manner during his victory speech last night in Parsippany. Christie won the election by a 4 percent margin, taking 49 percent of the state’s voters.

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Daggett considers gubernatorial run success despite results

BY GREG FLYNN CORRESPONDENT

BASKING RIDGE — As a nail-biter of an election chattered into last night, one thing was clear: Christopher J. Daggett had become one of the most successful Independent candidates in recent New Jersey history.

At the Dolce Hotel in Basking Ridge, the town he calls home, Daggett addressed the gathered media and supporters.

“We don’t know who won this election, but it’s not us,” said Daggett, who garnered 5.5 percent of the vote, according to election results.

He said his supporters should unite behind whomever wins the election due to the significant issues facing the state.

Daggett said the race gave conclusive proof that the two-part system is broken.

“Government is not the problem,” Daggett said. “Our twoparty system is what the problem is. Government needs independent thinking people — people not aligned with political parties or beholden to special interest.”

Daggett said New Jersey citizens should be ashamed by the tone of the campaign and should work day and night to stop such behavior.

New Jersey learned Republicans and Democrats will

do anything to win an election throughout the course of the campaign, Daggett said.

He expressed disgust with the corrosive nature of the campaign.

“If you look at tonight — low voter turnout — people were disgusted with the charges, allegations and negative campaigning,” Daggett said. “We’re all losers tonight.”

Nonsense about traffic records, robocalls and whether he was a Democratic plant leads to disinterest in politics, he said.

“Pointless politics and campaigns that have no substance are not what democracy is all about in the books that I read, everything I’ve learned as a kid and an adult,” Daggett said. “There was no conspiracy between me and [Gov.] Jon [S.] Corzine.”

Daggett said those who campaigned for him stood tall for the belief that there was nothing wrong with voting for the right person.

He campaigned on promises to lower property taxes while increasing sales taxes, cut the size and cost of government at all levels, protect the state’s environment, fund open space preservation and develop an offshore wind industry.

Citizens need to find a way to end negative campaigning, he said.

Daggett lauded the efforts of his campaign during his speech, thanking The Star-Ledger and the

New Jersey Sierra Club for their unexpected endorsements.

“Collectively it was the mouse that roared,” Daggett said. “I think New Jersey ought be thankful for them.”

During the summer, Daggett’s showing in the polls jumped. His performance in the gubernatorial race built upon the momentum.

The support dropped off for the election but those gathered in Basking Ridge believed he still had an impact.

New Jersey Sierra Club Political Chair Richard Isaac said Daggett’s campaign made the two major party candidates sweat it out in the final months.

His substantial issues-based campaign exposed how vague the other two candidates’ promises are, Isaac said.

“Chris Daggett has a ver y strong record of real accomplishments,” Isaac said.

Independent Lieutenant Governor Candidate Frank Esposito said Daggett was the one candidate who addressed issues, including slashing property taxes and restoring support to higher education.

“This race has really heavily been between the two major parties a mudslinging contest,” said Esposito, a University alumnus.

“They’ve not focused on any issues.”

He dismissed the notion that a vote for Daggett was wasted.

“We feel that in a democracy, people should make a choice and the choice should be based on the best sense of who can do the job,” Esposito said.

“Unfortunately, the two major parties, feeling threatened by us because we were a popular movement, began to throw out to the public that it’s a throwaway vote.

It’s absolute rubbish.”

He said suppor t for an Independent candidate in New Jersey might indicate a broader trend.

“In New Jersey, an increasing number of people are coming to the realization that the two major parties are not addressing the needs of [the state],” Esposito said.

Thirty-one-year-old Sophia Pelton, a Clinton resident, volunteered for the Daggett campaign.

“I think that Daggett has given New Jersey residents a third option and an option with a plan — the only valid plan that’s been offered by any of the candidates.”

She said if Daggett could finish the race with 10 percent of the vote, it would send out a message that New Jersey is tired of politics as usual and looking for a third choice.

Clinton resident Ryan Pelton said he wasn’t sure if Daggett had added substance to the campaign.

“A lot of people are just par ty-oriented. I don’t think

[Daggett is] going to get a lot of votes,” Pelton said. “If it is at least 5 percent, it should send a message that there are voters out there who are unhappy with either choice.”

Libertarian Murray Sabrin, a University alumnus, collected 5 percent of the vote in 1997, setting the previous high water mark for third-party gubernatorial candidates in the state.

The last time a donkey or an elephant did not occupy the governor’s office was in 1848, when Whig Charles Creighton Stratton, a University alumnus, left office. The Republican Party didn’t exist until 1854, said campaign expert David Redlawsk.

Livingston College senior Robert Cacioppo volunteered for the campaign and came out to Basking Ridge in support of Daggett.

“Voters need to demand more out of their politicians than just vote for the least worst,” Cacioppo said. “We call ourselves a beacon of democracy and every election there’s just one more choice than there is under tyranny. What’s the point of democracy? To vote for who you think is the best candidate — not for who you think is going to win. [That] shouldn’t matter.”

— Dan Bracaglia contributed to this report

DAN BRACAGLIA/ MULTIMEDIA EDITOR

DAN BRACAGLIA/ MULTIMEDIA EDITOR

DAN BRACAGLIA/ MULTIMEDIA EDITOR

Top right and left: Independent candidate Chris Daggett gives his concession speech last night after Governor-elect Chris Christie won the race for governor.

Although he recognized his chance to win as a long shot, Daggett viewed his campaign as an accomplishment. Bottom right: Daggett hugs his daughter Alexandra.

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Ward question too close to call, results lean toward ‘no’

BY ARIEL NAGI ASSOCIATE NEWS EDITOR

After months of court cases, controversial disputes and posting “Vote Yes” or “Vote No to Wards” signs around the city and University, Empower Our Neighborhoods and Unite New Brunswick will have to wait an extra day to get the full results of the ward-based system question.

Due to a large number of absentee and provisional ballots that have yet to be counted, the winning vote cannot yet be determined, New Br unswick City Spokesman Bill Bray said.

As of about 8:45 p.m. last night, the “No to Wards” vote is prevailing, with 2,135 “no” votes versus 1,756 “Yes to Wards” votes, Bray said.

“The ‘yes’ vote has been prevailing on campus and in one or two [election] districts,” he said. “But elsewhere, the ‘no’ vote is prevailing.”

EON’s question calls for the ward-based system of six wards each with representatives and three council members voted atlarge, while UNB would like the city’s government to remain as is.

UNB member Kyle Kirkpatrick said although he is pleased the “no” vote is ahead, he is not going to get his hopes up until all of the ballots are officially counted.

“I’m on pins and needles here.

I do want to remain optimistic right now,” Kirkpatrick said.

“Neither side is claiming victory right now. We really believe that voting ‘no’ is the right thing for the city. We hope that voters express that in the poll.”

EON President Mar tha Guarnieri said she is upset the results are not in yet after all the anticipation the organization was building up but will remain hopeful.

“We don’t know [who the winner is] yet,” said Guarnieri, a Rutgers College senior. “But I’m hopeful that all of our energy put into the early vote operation pays off and that those ballots are counted fairly.

“I’m proud that the students came out and voted for wards, [but] it wasn’t a fair game today.”

School of Arts and Sciences junior Robert Ir ven said he voted for a ward-based system because it would help the residents of the city have a voice and a person to adequately represent them, especially students who live off campus.

“I voted for [wards] because I live off campus, so to have someone to represent us and our problems would be better than just having one person from the city council represent us,” Irven said. “[The ward representative’s] main job is to serve us.”

But some students argue a ward-based system would only represent University students, not any of the long-term city residents.

The residents who have been living in the city for a long time and plan on staying in the city deser ve to have a say over University students, who come and go, said Rutgers College senior Sarah Waniak.

“The people who are working to change [the system to a wardbased one] are probably going to end up leaving and the people who are going to see the consequences … are going to be the residents of New Brunswick, who kind of have contempt for Rutgers students who are trying to take control of their city,” Waniak said.

UNB member Ezra Rufino said the ward-based system would give priority to the students.

“By dividing the city up, wards are not going to be working with each other … or working with the city as a whole as they should be,” said Rufino, a Rutgers College

senior. “We’re segregating ourselves as students from the rest of the New Brunswick community.”

School of Engineering senior Dincer Dinc said he was unsure whether to vote “yes” or “no” to wards, because although he heard a lot about the ward question, he did not want to base his decision off what he read on campaign advertisements.

Waniak said having ward representatives would create more bureaucracy and political crime.

“It would create more ‘I’ll scratch your back if you scratch mine’ among our representatives, as opposed to having them all work together for the greater good of New Brunswick as a whole,” she said.

Rutgers College senior Michelle Shen said she respects the vision of EON, but creating a ward-based system is not going to help members reach their goals to have the New Brunswick community represented well.

“We understand their goals and what they’re tr ying to achieve, but we don’t think that having their ward system is going to achieve that,” Shen said.

Kirkpatrick said it is unfortunate for both UNB and EON members that they were unable to get the results on time.

“I imagine that it’s sad for both parties involved,” he said.

“You obviously want to know if you accomplished what you wanted to accomplish.”

EON began campaigning for a ward-based system about a year ago to change the at-large system in the city to a wardbased system with six wards representatives and three council members elected at-large, arguing the new system would help students and the New Brunswick community receive better representation and more individualized attention.

The opposing group, UNB, was formed during the summer and had a petition approved to increase city government to a greater at-large system, electing seven members to the city council as opposed to the current five members. They argued that wards would increase taxes and crime, and would segregate the city.

But this petition, approved by New Brunswick City Clerk Dan Torrisi, was brought before Judge James Hurley and overturned in September, arguing the petition was improperly approved.

MAYA NACHI/ STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER

BRENDAN MCINERNEY/ SENIOR STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER

Top: Empower Our Neighborhoods volunteers Mike Shanahan, left; Avianna Perez, middle; and Kristen Clarke, right, rally support for the city ward campaign yesterday outside Brower Commons on the College Avenue campus. Below: EON Executive Board Members Martha Guarnieri, left, and Charlie Kratovil, right, wait for election ballots to be counted yesterday in the city clerk’s office.

Democratic incumbents hold onto District 17

BY COLLEEN ROACHE STAFF WRITER

Democratic Assemblymen Upendra J. Chivukula and Joseph V. Egan will continue to represent District 17, which includes the city of New Brunswick, following a 62.1 percent win over Republican candidates Salim Nathoo and Anthony Mazzola, according to reported election results.

This will be the fifth term office for both Chivukula and Egan.

Renovations of Route 27, working with state departments to achieve greater energy efficiency and lowering tuition for University students is among top priorities when it comes to improving New Brunswick and

other regions of Middlesex County, Chivukula said.

He said consolidating school districts in order to decrease spending is also an option.

“I think ever ybody has been talking about tr ying to do consolidation of the school districts,” Chivukula said. “We have to get people to the table and say, ‘Look, we have to start [addressing] the issue of consolidation,’ so that we can cut down some of the administrative costs ... [and] bring property tax relief to the residents of the district.”

Higher education is another priority, and the assemblyman intends to make it more attainable for University students, regardless of socioeconomic status.

“We have to put some restrictions on the increase of tuition,” Chivukula said. “The students are already paying a lot of tuition, and we have to cap the increases.”

Efforts to get more financial assistance from the state to help students are important, Chivukula said.

Young voters, like recent Rutgers Business School graduate Joseph Abadir, agree with the assemblyman’s stance on tuition at the University. Though Abadir supported Republican Governorelect Chris Christie, he was in agreement with the Democratic assemblyman’s ideas and said tuition concerns, like attaining loans, were among the issues he found most important.

“I think that would be a great thing,” Abadir said, in reference

to Chivukula’s plans for financial assistance. “That’s definitely what Rutgers needs.”

Catrice Lacklard, a School of Management and Labor Relations first-year graduate student, admitted she did not know much about the candidate but was interested in his efforts to attain more money for college students.

She was less supportive of work on Route 27.

“I don’t have a problem with fixing up the roads, but I feel like the money that we’re spending on these roads is ridiculous,” Lacklard said. “We should put it toward something else.”

She said government of ficials should put the money and effort into making sure more students can pay for college and

more homeowners can afford to own houses.

Chivukula served as deputy speaker of the assembly throughout his last term. In addition, he is chair of the Telecommunications and Utilities Committee as well as a member of the Commerce and Economic Development Committee.

He is the first Indian-American elected to the state general assembly.

Egan, chair of the Assembly Labor Committee and member of the Telecommunications and Utilities Committee, has served as deputy major leader since last year. He has been a member of the City of New Brunswick Council since 1982.

Egan and Mazzola could not be reached for comment as of press time.

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County by county: Blue state turns red

49% CHRISTIE 45% CORZINE 5.5% DAGGETT

DATA COURTESY OF THE NEW YORK TIMES WEB SITE

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Students dissatisfied with candidates, remain indecisive

BY HEATHER BROOKHART METRO EDITOR

After a tight race between gubernatorial candidates Jon S. Corzine and Chris Christie, students on campus were equally split between the two.

Many did not vote because of dissatisfaction with the candidates or were not informed enough to make a decision.

Christie led Corzine by 49 to 44 percent at 11:28 p.m. last night, with 98 percent of the vote counted.

Rutgers College senior Eitan Levine was surprised to hear Christie was elected governor because he thought it would be a landslide victor y for Corzine.

“For me, I was indifferent, I didn’t vote … but it was a surprise nonetheless because I know what the public was expecting,” he said.

But School of Arts and Sciences junior Brandon Broderick said he was not as surprised by Christie’s win even though Democrats usually win in New Jersey.

“People were getting tired of Corzine’s high taxes; he was going to do the whole tollbooth tax, they kind of were getting tired of him … so it makes sense,” he said.

Many students were torn between the candidates.

“The way Corzine’s been running things, it doesn’t seem good.

But after seeing Christie’s plans, I’m not quite sure I support any [candidate],” said School of Ar ts and Sciences first-year student Allen Kung.

“I suppor t Corzine’s suggested plans, but I’m not sure he’s going to go through with them.”

School of Arts and Sciences sophomore Danika Chari was one of many who could not choose between Corzine and Christie.

“I didn’t really notice any huge improvements since [Corzine] was in office. I’m not saying I’m going toward one or the other, but maybe Chris

Christie would be able to bring a different type of feel to New Jersey,” she said.

Many students likened choosing between Corzine and Christie to deciding between the lesser of two evils, and Rutgers Business School first-year student Carey Ji said he leaned slightly more toward Corzine.

“I really don’t like both of them, but if you really had to force me to choose, I would probably say Corzine,” he said.

Ernest Mario School of Pharmacy first-year student Rich Burrell said he thought both candidates were about the same, and he did not vote.

“They might change small things here or there, but they’ll both lead the state on about the same path,” Burrell said.

He said he thinks Corzine has a façade of being for the hardworking, ever yday man, yet he made his money at Goldman Sachs.

“I think he is in bed with the teacher’s unions too much and he influences that a lot,” Burrell said.

He said his mother is a teacher and has told him that Corzine tries to influence teacher’s unions, saying that if they vote for him he will ensure health benefits.

“I don’t like that heavy-handed propaganda,” he said.

On the other hand, Burrell said he is bothered by the fact that as attorney general, Christie failed to attack corporate crime as much as he should have.

“I think that it’s not good to have a person in office who spent eight years not trying to hunt down people who are taking in [bribes] … while being an attorney for New Jersey, I don’t like that at all,” he said.

Burrell said he would like to see a leader who will put the right kind of rules and regulations in place.

“I don’t think that either party really has the ner ve to actually [take on] these kinds of roles and implement those rules

so I’m not a fan of either of them,” he said.

Other students said they voted for Christie because they would like to see change in the state’s government.

School of Engineering senior Sean Oshea said he voted for Christie and all of the Republican line.

“I would just like to see a shake-up in the government of New Jersey,” he said. “The Virginia election and the New Jersey election are scheduled for the U.S. to kind of show the president what the country wants.”

Oshea said he would like to see the state change direction and wants fiscal conser vatism.

Douglass College senior Jennifer Perez said she also voted for Christie.

“I’m really disappointed in the job that Corzine did,” Perez said. “He did a really horrible job [and he] dropped the ball on a lot of things.”

She said college students are really feeling the brunt of Corzine’s budget cuts.

“Having him come back into power or be re-elected is going to just keep the same problems that we have going on here,” Perez said.

Exit polls conducted yesterday revealed the majority of Corzine voters ranged between ages 18 to 29, while Christie voters were 65 years and older, according to NJ.com. Voters 30 to 44 and 45 to 64 years old were split between both candidates.

Leading up to the election, many wondered what impact Independent Chris Daggett would have.

Rutgers Business School junior Bobby Brocco said he does not like Corzine or Christie, and thinks Daggett was the only candidate who could really bring change to the state.

Perez said she would not mind a Daggett win, but it is a long shot for an Independent candidate to win in New Jersey.

“I feel like voting for him would be kind of a wasted vote,” she said.

ALEXA BURGESS School of Arts and Sciences first-year student “I don’t think [Chris] Christie would do a better job than [Jon S.] Corzine would, and Corzine hasn’t done the best job, but he’s the better candidate.”

ZEV FEINBERG School of Arts and Sciences junior “I voted for Corzine; he’s the only one who has a real standing on legalization [of medical marijuana]. That’s one of the only real differences. Otherwise, I don’t know enough about the other candidates.”

MIRIAM BORDEN School of Arts and Sciences first-year student “Everybody talks about this election being a local election of national importance, and I feel like this is really my first chance to actually have my vote counted in a way.”

SIRFARAZ PIRACHA School of Arts and Sciences junior “[Chris] Daggett … he’s a really strong Independent. He’s definitely going to sway the vote; he’s definitely brought up a lot of issues, I think, to people in New Jersey.”

ZAINAB ALI School of Arts and Sciences sophomore “I’m not voting because I don’t like either one of the candidates.”

JACOB LEPIARZ School of Communication and Information graduate student “From what I’ve heard, Christie really doesn’t have much of a plan to report, especially as far as the deficit is concerned, whereas Corzine has outlined more of a plan for the future.”

JEFF GUARNERI University College senior “Corzine sometimes gets a bit of a bad rap with students but I mean, I’ve seen far worse in terms of politicians. Overall, I don’t disagree with what he’s done. I think he hasn’t done a really bad job, so my vote’s with him.”

ASHLEY MALM Mason Gross School of the Arts senior “I voted for Christie. … I’ve always voted Republican, and my dad just informed me on all the issues and I kind of just always go with my family.”

ALBERT LAM

School of Arts and Sciences sophomore Ameer Wright casts his vote for the 2009 election at the Busch Campus Center, one of the seven polling places for University students.

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Wards vital to much needed city change L

et us begin with the obser vation that New Brunswick is an incredibly diverse community, comprised of students, small business owners, families, academics and professionals — in short, people of virtually all creeds, ethnicities and socioeconomic backgrounds. As a consequence of this diversity, each of the city’s neighborhoods faces specific challenges and has unique needs. Unfortunately, under the current at-large system of representation, to use the term loosely, the needs and concerns of many New Brunswick residents, primarily students and minorities, have simply not been heard or, worse, have been deliberately ignored by Mayor Jim Cahill and the members of the city council.

When the city’s public schools need more funding and better facilities, when many of its neighborhoods are far more unsafe than others, when law enforcement resources are being used inefficiently, ineffectively and often unconstitutionally to criminalize peaceful activities, our least empowered citizens deserve, at the very least, some assurance that their voices are being heard, that their concerns matter as much as those of their more affluent neighbors. As it stands, the current system is inherently undemocratic, privileging the concerns of the city’s wealthiest and most powerful interests over all others. The construction of luxury hotels, deluxe condominiums, overpriced restaurants and multistory parking decks in the downtown area, all to the benefit of the commercial sector, have dominated New Brunswick’s agenda for years while ordinary residents have been lucky to receive the occasional platitude about job creation

or safer roads. It is or her actual polithis type of cies and ability to unequal treatment represent conthat inspired constituents. In a true cerned New democracy, candiBrunswick residates’ ideas and dents to launch a level of dedication, campaign for rather than their change. finances and conJOSH BAKER nections, should Frankly, the only way to determine whether improve the predicament city residents or not they are elected. By allowing each of currently face is through the institution of a New Brunswick’s six wards to elect its own ward system in the city. Students and representative to the city council along minorities effectively have almost no voice with three at-large members, the cost of whatsoever in the at-large city council, and running for office will be greatly reduced, this situation will continue indefinitely with- as candidates will have to reach out to only out fundamental change to the city’s sys- a few thousand voters in their own neightem of governance. Among the most impor- borhoods, rather than all 20,000 registered tant points to note in to vote in the city. this debate is the fact Beyond all this, a ward “Frankly, the only way to system will also make that running for city council under the atcouncil members far improve the predicament city large system is tremenmore accountable to dously expensive, city residents currently their constituents, a key meaning that many feature of any healthy face is through the well-meaning and comdemocracy. munity-oriented resiIt is a historical fact institution of a ward dents of the city are that at-large systems system in the city.” from the start discourhave been used to disaged from running for enfranchise voters and office simply because of eliminate or lessen the a lack of campaign funds. Of course, candi- discussion of local residents’ concerns. dates could accept campaign donations According to Empower Our from special interests, but this will obvious- Neighborhoods’ press kit, “New ly do nothing to alter the pattern of com- Brunswick has several unique charactermercial favoritism we have seen in the city istics that make it different from most government over the past decades. It is other mid-sized N.J. cities. It has an plain to see how this situation threatens our astounding number of its residents rentdemocracy: The balance in a given candi- ing, as well as large foreign-born populadate’s checking account becomes far more tions, crippling poverty and an extraordiimportant to the electoral process than his narily young median age [of 23.6 years].

Zeitgeist

Renters and young people are less likely to vote (or at least to vote in New Brunswick), as are the urban poor and foreign-born population in the city. As a result, other groups of residents (largely from the af fluent wards of New Brunswick) sweep their candidates into office each election. This effectively disenfranchises poorer residents, immigrants and students, who could not possibly constitute enough support to elect anyone to citywide office aside from the political machine’s candidates.”

Further, EON notes that many other N.J. cities comparable in size to New Br unswick, including Wayne, Old Bridge, Piscataway, Atlantic City and Hoboken, have instituted a ward system and that cities all across the United States have been eliminating at-large seats from their councils in an effort to better address their residents’ needs.

There is no good reason for any New Brunswick resident not to support the creation of a ward-based system, unless, of course, he or she is benefiting from the status quo. This past year, the city of New Br unswick spent more than $100,000 in legal fees in various attempts to block the ward question from being placed on the ballot, according to reports. As the majority of council members and city officials live in New Brunswick’s safest and most affluent neighborhood they see no need for change. But for the majority of the city’s residents, change is vital and the creation of a ward-based system is the best means to achieve it.

Josh Baker is a Rutgers College senior majoring in sociology.

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ELECTION

NOVEMBER 4, 2009

E9

Christie strongest candidate for governor A

s the vice president of the Rutgers College Republicans, I admit to feeling obliged to support Republican candidates for whom I have lukewarm feelings. Too often voters of all stripes are forced to decide between the better of two evils. This often leaves a bitter taste in voters’ mouths. Fortunately, New Jersey citizens have a candidate for governor whom they can support proudly.

I have strongly supported Chris Christie for governor since the beginning of the process. Of course, I was immediately attracted to his candidacy because I knew he could win, but the more I have followed him, and the more I have heard him speak, the more ardent my belief is that he would make a great governor. I hope all Rutgers students who care about the environment, taxes, spending, corruption and job creation voted for Christie-Guadagno.

Under Democratic leadership, taxes have skyrocketed to the point where New Jersey families cannot afford to live and work here. The average New Jersey family’s taxes have increased by $10,000 in the past eight years. It is not just families that are feeling the heat of the high taxes.

Businesses of all sizes are leaving — or just not coming in the first place — to our state because of high corporate and sales taxes. Why would a family live in New Jersey, with the highest tax burden in the nation, when that same family could move to Pennsylvania and pay less in taxes? An even more relevant question for college students is: Will there be any jobs left for college grads in a few years? While Gov.

Jon S. Corzine farms, and he also raised taxes by $1.2 plans on creating billion during a an agency to conrecession, Christie solidate all renewhas a vision of able energy manulower taxes in New facturing efforts.

Jersey. He has He proposed promised across restoring NOAH GLYN Department the the board tax cuts of for all taxpayers; he Environmental has proposed cutting the corporate tax Protection to its original mission of cleanrate, which will bring more jobs to New ing polluted areas. For all these reasons, Jersey. He has also pledged to reinstate the Christie won the endorsement of the New property tax rebate, which Corzine stole Jersey Environmental Federation, the from 1.2 million people. largest pro-environment group in the state.

Despite all the increases in revenue, In the 2009 election for governor, environNew Jersey is still facing a projected $6 to mentalists should have supported Christie, 8 billion deficit. That is because he has emphaabout one-third of New the issue more “Too often voters of sized Jersey’s budget. How can a than any other candistate overspend by that all stripes are forced date, and he will be much? Of course, Corzine the best governor for to decide between the the environment. wants us to believe that he has been brave enough to served as the better of two evils.” U.S.Christie cut spending for our state.

Attorney for seven While it is true that he has years before deciding to done so recently, it was only after he began run for governor. Do not let Corzine’s lies spending money at an alarming rate. Our and distortions fool you: Christie served state does not have enough money to con- admirably and courageously. He had a pertinue spending money on a reckless rate. fect record of 130 convictions and guilty Only Christie has the plan and the guts to pleas versus no acquittals. Even Corzine cut spending. supported Christie as U.S. Attorney. It was Christie also has the strongest vision only after Christie announced his candidafor the environment among the candidates cy that Corzine started portraying him as running for governor. He wants to give the boogeyman. But the reality is that incentives to clean energy producers who Christie took on corrupt politicians like forwill bring green jobs to New Jersey. mer Newark Mayor Sharpe James. He put Christie supports expanding solar power terrorists behind bars, he fought against

Always Right

human trafficking and he fought alongside Newark Mayor Cory Booker against gang violence. Corzine has done nothing of the sort — and while he has not participating in corrupt practices himself — he has enabled corrupt politicians by not fighting the status quo. Christie has — and will continue to fight — against corruption.

The University overwhelmingly supported Barack Obama for president last fall. Although I voted for Sen. John McCain, I understood these passions for change, and I obviously understood their admiration for then-Sen. Obama. Christie offers students, and all of New Jersey, the chance to move past the corrupt politics and failed policies of the past eight years.

I could go on and on about Christie, and I truly believe he is a good man, a good leader and that he would be a great governor. Whether Christie earned your vote, do not believe the attack ads being thrown against him by Corzine. Corzine, a desperate politician trying to keep his grip on power, has millions to spend on the election, and he had no record to stand on. His best strategy was to attack and destroy the most formidable opponent. However, no matter how much money he spends, and no matter how many times he insults Christie’s integrity, he cannot spend his way out of four years of failure. Here’s to hoping the next four years are better.

Noah Glyn is a School of Arts and Sciences sophomore. He is also the vice president of the Rutgers College Republicans.

E10

NOVEMBER 4, 2009

ELECTION

T H E DA I LY TA R G U M

Corzine concedes race, congratulates winner

BY MARY DIDUCH ASSOCIATE NEWS EDITOR

EAST BRUNSWICK — Gov. Jon S. Corzine lost re-election last night with about 45 percent of New Jersey voters to Republican challenger Chris Christie.

Christie, a former federal prosecutor, won with about 49 percent of the vote, according to reported election results.

“From the Delaware to the Jersey Shore … it has been an incredible, incredible journey, and I am grateful to all New Jersey for that,” Corzine said.

In the state’s democratic election party at the East Brunswick Hilton, he said he called Christie to congratulate him on becoming New Jersey’s next governor.

“I want you to know that Chris was gracious in his response, and we will work hard together to make sure the transition is smooth and do everything that will ser ve the people of this state,” Corzine said.

He said serving as governor and U.S. senator of New Jersey was an unimaginable joy.

“For citizens of this great state, this is a moment where there is some little sadness, but I must tell you, I have never been more honored,” Corzine said, as serving as a U.S. senator and governor has been a joy he never imagined.

His administration saw tough times, but he made a difference in people’s lives, Corzine said.

He is proud of them and all those who worked tirelessly on his campaign.

Corzine thanked Independent candidate Chris Daggett for making the campaign a clear and focused race.

Lt. Governor Candidate Sen. Loretta Weinberg, D-Bergen, expressed her gratitude for the hard work of the party throughout the past year.

“There is not one minute of this that I would ever trade in,” Weinberg said. “This was the most incredible journey. The people of New Jersey are wonderful.

Our Democratic Party is awesome, and we have the most awesome state chair in the world in Joseph Pride.”

The state and nation’s worst economic recession since the Great Depression and the failed policies of the Bush administration did not resonate well with New Jersey voters, said U.S. Sen. Robert Menendez, D-NJ. “[Corzine] can’t do anything about that at all, yet he faces the consequences of it and there’s voter anger, and understandably so,” he said. “People have either lost their jobs, had somebody in their family lose their job or are anxious about their company keeping their job.”

Despite Corzine’s loss, Menendez said the former governor clearly communicated his message throughout his campaign.

“How many states can you go and say, ‘I cut the budget $5 billion from when I took office and yet raised education funding?’”

Menendez said.

The former governor also was the first in the nation to create his own in-state stimulus package to get citizens back to work. Corzine lobbied and testified for the national stimulus package as well.

“He positioned the state to be ready to take advantage of what was being proposed in Congress,” Menendez said. “He pointed us in the right direction.

That’s the best you can do.”

But at the end of the day, Menendez said the failed policies of the Bush administration and the national crisis were out of the governor’s hands.

Rep. Steve Rothman said Corzine came into office with huge obstacles, but he should be

RAMON DOMPOR/ ASSOCIATE PHOTOGRAPHY EDITOR

considered one of the best in the state’s history.

“He made a lot of good decisions, but ultimately, I think the people of New Jersey were looking for a new energy,” Rothman said.

While New Jersey is mainly a Democratic state, Rothman said they are willing to give Christie a chance to tackle the financial crisis.

Although the Corzine campaign brought national

Democratic leaders such as President Barack Obama to the state, this was a local race, Rothman said.

“This had to do with how New Jerseyans are feeling about the problems we face here, and it was clear that not all of the Obama supporters came out to vote,” he said.

He wished Christie well in office on behalf of both Democratic and Republican Congress members.

School of Arts and Sciences junior Art Nevins was a field operator for the Corzine campaign, going door-to-door to spread the word.

“I think it will be bad for the state because the state’s mostly Democratic, so it’s a poor decision for the state to support Christie because it’s contrary to what [voters] mainly believe in, and they’ll be angr y in four years,” Nevins said.

RAMON DOMPOR/ ASSOCIATE PHOTOGRAPHY EDITOR

RAMON DOMPOR/ ASSOCIATE PHOTOGRAPHY EDITOR

RAMON DOMPOR/ ASSOCIATE PHOTOGRAPHY EDITOR

Despite spending double the amount of Governor-elect Chris Christie during the campaign, Gov. Jon S. Corzine loses re-election with 44 percent of the vote. Corzine, at his concession speech, thanks Independent candidate Chris Daggett, who loses with 5.5 percent of the vote, for helping to bring focus and clarity to the election.

T H E DA I LY TA R G U M

ELECTION

NOVEMBER 4, 2009

RAMON DOMPOR/ ASSOCIATE PHOTOGRAPHY EDITOR

RAMON DOMPOR/ ASSOCIATE PHOTOGRAPHY EDITOR

RAMON DOMPOR/ ASSOCIATE PHOTOGRAPHY EDITOR

RAMON DOMPOR/ ASSOCIATE PHOTOGRAPHY EDITOR

E11

As state precincts return poll results throughout the night, Gov. Jon S. Corzine trails Republican challenger Chris Christie. Corzine delivers his concession speech at the state Democratic election party at the Hilton hotel in East Brunswick, wishing the new administration well. Lt. Governor Candidate State Sen. Loretta Weinberg, D-Bergen, thanks campaign workers, supporters and New Jersey residents.

RAMON DOMPOR/ ASSOCIATE PHOTOGRAPHY EDITOR

RAMON DOMPOR/ ASSOCIATE PHOTOGRAPHY EDITOR