We Need a Governor — from Monmouth Beach
By Greg Kelly
I recently launched a website about my native town of Monmouth Beach and it just so happens that a resident of that great community is running for Governor of New Jersey, Kim Guadagno.
So I thought I’d offer some local perspective on a state concern. I’m backing Kim on November 7 and it’s an easy vote for me.
I’ve known Kim since she first ran for political office in Monmouth Beach back 12 years ago. As I’ve followed her career, I’ve learned that Kim already has to be exceptional just to survive. She’s a Republican from New Jersey (a state that twice voted against Abraham Lincoln), is married to a seasoned judge (husband Mike recently retired from the NJ Superior Court) and is mother to three smart kids (some went to school with my children for a while).
In light of the recent vile and mean-spirited Star-Ledger editorial endorsement of Phil Murphy in the governor’s race, I’d like to offer the main reasons why Kim gets my vote:
- Integrity: It was a very rainy, windy night in early December last year. The Monmouth Beach Fire Company (I am a 35-year exempt member) was hosting its annual dinner at the Monmouth Beach Bath & Tennis Club on Ocean Avenue. And on this horrendous weather night by the water, our busy lieutenant governor showed up to help us mark the occasion.
It wasn’t just a quick cameo either. Kim joined in and listened to us (mostly middle-aged men) celebrate ourselves. She didn’t have to appear at our small time event — or any other in town. When it comes to little Monmouth Beach, our vote is meaningless. There was absolutely no reason for her to be at our tedious townie event. Zero political gain was to be had.
In light of the extreme outdoor elements, I still can’t believe I made the meeting that night — and I like a lot of these people (while only tolerating a few others). Kim not only appeared, but stayed awhile, and seemed to enjoy it all.
And I’m told that Kim has frequently gone out of her way to attend and/or officiate at many hometown events over the past 8 years — always with good humor and style.
Her classy behavior on that miserable stormy night offered insight, showing me that she is a person of good character and steady loyalty. Traits that are in very short supply in Trenton.
- Experience: Many voters for Democrat Phil Murphy admit to me they know that he bought his way to the ’17 Democrat nomination for NJ governor. Spending over $16 million of his own money to win the gubernatorial primary back in the summer, the former top Goldman Sachs executive didn’t earn it; he acquired it.
Kim got where she did the old-fashioned way — hard work and dedication. A real legal-eagle, she is a former assistant US Attorney and assistant NJ Attorney General, where she successfully prosecuted political corruption and business fraud (sound familiar in NJ?)
Starting out as a Monmouth Beach planning board member, Kim began her elective career in 2005 as a borough commissioner. She won a seat with 484 votes and her first official act was to praise the MBBP swim team, I recall from my reporting.
She moved on to Monmouth County Sheriff, winning a close race for the office in 2007. In some Monmouth Beach serendipity, Eliakim Wardell, the borough’s founder, was the very first Monmouth County Sheriff back in 1683, a fact Kim liked to point out. She quickly made an impression in Freehold, she explained to me, even though “they weren’t ready for a woman sheriff.”
Since 2009, Kim has served as the Lt. Governor of New Jersey, the first such official in state history. And in an effort to cull NJ’s ever-expanding bureaucracy, she has done double duty as the NJ Secretary of State.
Murphy is nowhere as steeped or as studied as is Kim in understanding the major issues that impact our state. She has earned the chance to be our governor.
- Protection: I maintain that we must be better stewards of our planet. We only got the one. I’m not a global-warming doomsayer, but I do believe stronger actions are required to protect our environment.
This issue is particularly critical to us on the Jersey Shore, of which Kim is a contented dweller. While I wonder if Phil Murphy could find the beach with a map, I believe that Kim knows and loves our coast.
During an interview with her a few years back, Kim told me that during her many travels around the Garden State she has seen it all and feels blessed to be able to come back to Monmouth Beach every day. “It’s my home,” she told me.
The whole farce of Chris Christie lounging on a shuttered state beach this past summer held no amusement for me. It was just a media game for him — it was easy to see the guy doesn’t really care about the shore. Kim, who lives here, surely does.
Which candidate will do a better job of protecting New Jersey’s precious 127-mile coastline (and by connection our environment)? Simple, the person who says it’s home.
- Stability: Chris Christie failed as NJ governor not because of his polices (many of which Kim continues to embrace) but because of his personality. I find him to be a repellent human being — on so many levels. And some of the worst stuff I heard about him came from Republicans. Kim is her own person and thinks for herself.
Still, the goals and policies that he (and she) twice won the governor’s office on (e.g., limiting government spending, reducing taxes, creating jobs, bettering education, and reforming public employee benefits) are as clear and as meaningful as ever.
Even Kim admits that there’s little or no chance of party control change in either house of the NJ state legislature this election. NJ Democrats will keep control and neither they nor Phil Murphy are talking about limiting state government spending going forward (they’ve already told us our taxes will go way up). An analysis by Save Jersey says that Murphy’s proposals will cost $75 billion. Think we’re in a financial hole now?
Even if she achieves little else, Kim will act as a reasonable check or control on crazy government spending in NJ. To me, this was Christie’s lone worthy achievement as governor — his finger in the damn. It’s scary to think that New Jersey’s worst in the nation record on high taxes could have been lousier.
- Diversity: Kim’s choice for lieutenant governor is a wise one. Carlos Rendo, the 53-year-old mayor of Woodcliff Lake, NJ, was born in Cuba but fled the communist nation for America with his family as a young boy. The Republican Party will never endure unless it opens up its tent to include more Hispanic Americans.
Latino voters, an important political force (they’re 20% of the NJ electorate and growing), understand and want the American dream. They as a people embrace hard work, family unity, and religious faith — all fundamental hallmarks of the Republican canon. We need them in our party.
Mayor Rendo says his inspiration is Ronald Reagan, who easily carried our state twice. Plus, Rendo backed Florida Senator Marco Rubio (not Christie) in the 2016 US presidential race and he’s the person I wanted to win.
Good luck, Kim!
Greg Kelly is a long time Monmouth County journalist. He is a contributor to MoreMonmouthMusings and the publisher of MonmouthBeachLife.
More from my site
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Guadagno: My plan would cut property taxes immediately
Kim Strikes Back
Guadagno launches TV ad
Watch the Republican Gubernatorial Debate, 8PM
Piscopo Endorses Guadagno for Governor
Watch the NJ Gubernatorial Debates Live
Guadagno Highlights Dems’ Attacks On Murphy- In the Money: What the Gubernatorial Hopefuls Have Spent Thus Far
Kim Guadagno is New Jersey’s Best Hope To Defeat Phil Murphy
and agreed: am terrified too many Dem robots who live here do not care, and will just vote their line, thereby sealing the state’s fate of bankruptcy and chaos..After writing some checks, working on mailings, communicating with friends and relatives about how critical this year is for us, and being afraid she needs another week, am down to praying for a miracle,on Nov.7..remember, please, and tell people NOT to stay home: Kim won’t be a good governor, Kim will be a GREAT governor: we have to sound the gong to move forward, and get people out, so that she has the chance!!
The challenges the State of N.J. faces remain a constant and as well as the political game. True executive leadership. Must prevail. Voters must insure a, conservative wins in Trenton. Please consider Voting for Kim. I know I am.
Greg- All great points about the depth and long history of Kim’s genuine involvement and caring about people she knows and even those she doesn’t.
I have also known Kim and her family for a couple of decades. I know many selfless decisions she has made in her public and private life for others. These are things she has chosen not to campaign on so I will not share them, but be assured she has proven she makes decisions that are huge personal commitments and responsibilities.
That’s why I know Kim would care for the people of NJ the same way.
She has my vote.
Steve Adams
It is frightening that this is even a topic of conversation. The fact that the bumbling lightweight Murphy is even a candidate defies logic. To all those nitwits who would vote for Murphy because they don’t like Christie remember this – Murphy will cause your taxes to rise, your state to become a sanctuary state, your kids to walk through a haze of a legalized gateway drug, your streets to become unsafe, your jobs to be driven out of the state just the same as the rest of us .our only hope is to elect Kim Guadagno next Tuesday
it terrifies me that most polls show the masses taking out their Christie-fatigue on this lovely lady: and, that this guy totally, easily, bought their nomination, with the experienced, less lib Dems folding like cheap suits, to let him have it. And, that his handlers are getting big bucks to run the most base, simplistic, and idiotic campaign, ever- vote for “not- Christie, “ big deal- no matter how much he raises your taxes and how many more illegals will be paid for by you. And, that people we see every day at the office,gym, schoolyard, field, church, etc., will actually vote for the guy! Please, please, NJ, wake up!!