It was a strong election for the GOP, both locally and statewide, as Republican Chris Christie defeated incumbent Democratic Gov. Jon Corzine and the party was also victorious in races for 8th District state General Assembly, Burlington County Board of Chosen Freeholders and municipal governing bodies in Medford, Southampton, Shamong and Tabernacle.
With 99 percent of precincts reported on election night Tuesday, Christie had tallied 1,140,134 votes to Corzine’s 1,040,404. In Burlington County, according to unofficial results, Christie received 62,513 votes to Corzine’s 59,109. Elected as lieutenant governor to serve with Christie was Monmouth County Sheriff Kimberly Guadagno.
Christie, a former U.S. Attorney for the District of New Jersey, appeared jubilant and hopeful during his victory speech Tuesday night at his campaign headquarters in Parsippany, Morris County, but his message was one that the task at hand will not be an easy one.
“This election was and is about the future of the state we love, the great state of New Jersey,” Christie said to his supporters. “We are in a crisis. The times are extremely difficult. But I stand here tonight full of hope.”
“Because tomorrow we begin to take back the state of New Jersey.”
The work will begin immediately, Christie said.
“Tomorrow we begin the great task of fixing our broken state,” Christie said, acknowledging that it is not going to be easy to fix all that ails the state in these difficult economic times when so many have lost their jobs and taxes are high.
“Tomorrow we are going to pick Trenton up and turn it upside down,” Christie said to big cheers from the audience. “We need to make New Jersey more affordable and we need to do it now.”
Christie will be sworn in as the 55th governor of New Jersey in January.
Corzine, who was seeking re-election to his second four-year term as governor, was solemn and tired looking during his concession speech, but told supporters that although his is “retiring” from politics, he will still be dedicated to causes he believes in, such as health care reform.
The New Jersey governor’s race was hotly contested and garnered much national attention. Pundits pointed out Tuesday night that no Democratic governor has been re-elected in the state for the past 32 years.
In the race for two 8th District General Assembly seats, Republican incumbents Dawn Marie Addiego of Evesham and Scott Rudder of Medford defeated Democratic challengers Debbie Sarcone of Evesham and Bill Brown of Mount Laurel.
According to unofficial results released by Burlington County Tuesday night, Addiego led with 38,921 votes, followed by Rudder with 37,564 votes. Brown and Sarcone garnered 24,369 and 24, 366 votes, respectively.
Addiego and Rudder will be sworn-in to their second two-year terms in January.
“We worked very hard and we put together a strong platform — to reduce government, cut taxes and create jobs,” Rudder said when reached for comment Wednesday. “We’re very excited to have a Republican governor to share our values.”
Rudder said he hopes a party change in the governor’s office will help move along legislation that Addiego and he support, including a measure to eliminate “unfunded mandates” from the state.
“I am absolutely delighted with the results,” Addiego said. “New Jersey is broken. I think, with a new governor, we have the opportunity to fix it. Scott and I are going to work very hard with the new governor to do just that.”
In the race for two open three-year county freeholder seats Republicans Mary Ann O’Brien of Medford and Bruce Garganio of Florence defeated Democrats Kimberly Kersey of Mount Holly and Jim Bernard of Cinnaminson. O’Brien led the way with 61,733 votes, followed by Garganio with 61,733, Kersey with 53,956 and Bernard with 51,510.
Other results from our readership area were:
Shamong — Republicans Sean Gray, an incumbent, (1,419 votes) and Kenneth Long (1,291 votes) defeated Democrats Joseph Reinhart (863 votes) and James Schroeder (619 votes) for three-year seats on township committee. Schroeder had dropped out of the race but his name was still on the ballot.
Southampton — Incumbent Republicans C. Edman Budd and Joseph Laufer were elected to three-year seats on township committee with 2,540 and 2,578 votes, respectively. No Democrats were on the ballot.
Tabernacle — Republican incumbents Richard Franzen and Kenneth Baranowski were re-elected to three-year township committee seats with 1,773 and 1,731 votes, respectively. Democratic challengers Janice McNally and Michelle Carlos received 614 and 572 votes respectively.
Voters statewide approved a public question to provide $400 million in bond funds for the state Green Acres, Water Supply and Floodplain Protection, and Farmland and Historic Preservation programs. The funds will be used for the acquisition of lands to be preserved for open space, farmland, historic use, or to protect water supplies or be developer for recreational use. The vote was a close one, with 99 percent of precincts reported, with 818,986 yes votes and 744,814 no votes.
Opponents of the question had argued that the funds will put the state in further debt it cannot afford, while supporters argued the benefits of preserving land and reducing development.
