Key environmental group calls Corzine 'hugely disappointing' and backs Christie

By Matt Friedman | October 6th, 2009 - 2:07pm
| More

Citing a string of broken promises from Gov. Jon Corzine, New Jersey's largest environmental group today backed former U.S. Attorney Christopher Christie for Governor - the first time the organization has endorsed a statewide Republican since its inception.

Members of the political arm of the New Jersey Environmental Federation - which endorsed Corzine in 2005 -- said they were "hugely disappointed" by Corzine's first term environmental record.  They specifically mentioned his lack of action in working to create more cooling towers for nuclear plants, a drop off in waterway protection, lack of a commitment to environmental justice and failing to takes sides on a proposed coal plant in Linden.

"We expect our political leaders to take on our environmental issues and problems and provide good solutions that are in the best interest of the environment," said Sharon Finlayson, who chairs the NJEF's five-member Vote Environment Committee.  "When that fails it is time for change.  We believe that the change we see will be found in Chris Christie."

The state's three major environmental groups have all snubbed Corzine this year.  The New Jersey chapter of the Sierra Club went for independent Chris Daggett, a former Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) commissioner and regional EPA administrator.  The other major group, Environment New Jersey, opted not to endorse anyone.  

The NJEF's leaders said they were won over by Christie's opposition to deepening the Delaware River; his promise to restore the DEP's Division of Science and Research, which was eliminated under Corzine; his support for retrofitting diesel engines used under state contracts; stop the "fish slaughter" from cooling systems at Salem and Oyster Creek and his stated opposition to the Linden coal plant. 

"We've been hugely disappointed [in Corzine]" said Ben Forest, a member of the committee that voted to endorse Christie.  "A lot of environmental promises and he failed to effectively lead. On many levels, I am sorry I cannot support his re-election."

Christie, who was flanked at today's press conference by environment-friendly Republicans --  state Sen. Bill Baroni (R-Hamilton) and U.S. Rep. Leonard Lance (R-Clinton) -- burnished his record prosecuting environmental crimes as U.S. Attorney - most notably against the Atlantic State Company. 

Christie blamed Corzine for the elimination of hundreds of streams from the C1 classification - the highest standard of waterway cleanliness - saying that he caved to political pressure from lobbyists and special interests to downgrade the classification.  He also ripped into Corzine for failing to commit to funding open space - a complaint often cited by environmental groups - and the "decimation by his Attorney General of the environmental crimes bureau." 

"Our DEP and this governor's office will make the decision based upon science, and not upon who brings what political pressure to bear inside the governor's office," said Christie. 

Christie said he wants to create a constitutionally dedicated fund for open space, and that using a portion of the sales tax "makes the most sense to do that."

Amy Goldsmith, the NJEF State Director, said that candidate viability did factor into the group's endorsement making process, but that "we really looked at the strength of the commitments on the issues. It actually weighed more than issues of viability."

David Pringle, the group's Campaign Director, said that Christie had the best environmental platform regardless of viability.

"Chris Daggett's a great guy... this endorsement isn't a criticism of him,' he said. "This endorsement is because [Christie] is the environmental candidate in this race, and this Governor is not."

Pringle said that he was concerned about press accounts from April, when Christie - who was then enmeshed in a competitive primary race with conservative Steve Lonegan - promised significant cuts at the DEP.  But Christie appeased the group with his interview and questionnaire answers.

Attending the press conference but not participating was Sierra Club New Jersey Director Jeff Tittel, who later voiced deep skepticism about Christie's environmental promises. 

"He said a lot of good things when we interviewed him, too," he said.  "But the concern we have is people who run for office tell us everything and do the opposite, like Whitman in ‘93 and Corzine in '05." 

Nevertheless, Tittel said he was happy that Christie proposed a "strong environmental agenda" and said the endorsement demonstrated that all of the state's environmental groups "believe Jon Corzine has done a poor job or has failed." 

Although the endorsement was unprecedented, it is not likely to change the dynamic of the governor's race, according to Monmouth University Polling Institute Director Patrick Murray, who attributed the endorsement to a "tiff between different wings of the environmental movement here in New Jersey at odds with each other." 

"At the end of the day, these environmental groups don't put voters in the polling booths," he said.

Ha!

THE PARAGRAPH BELOW IS THE BEST PART! ESSENTIALLY, CHRISTIE TOLD NJEF THAT HE WAS LYING WHEN HE FILLED OUT THE QUESTIONNAIRE DURING THE PRIMARY. HOW EXACTLY DID MR. CHRISTIE APPEASE THE GROUP WITH HIS INTERVIEW? CHRISTIE IS A RINO PLAIN AND SIMPLE. HE DOESN'T HAVE THE GUTS TO STAND UP TO THE LIBERAL SPECIAL INTERESTS. DEFEAT HIM! Pringle said that he was concerned about press accounts from April, when Christie - who was then enmeshed in a competitive primary race with conservative Steve Lonegan - promised significant cuts at the DEP. But Christie appeased the group with his interview and questionnaire answers.

Sad legacy

This is the sad legacy of Lisa Jackson, John Watson and their minions. What a price to pay. Did anyone see the 60 Minutes interview on coal ash? Perfect make-up and no clue.

Enviros are Never pleased

Always looking for a fund-raising angle.

Independent Woman...

This one will hurt Corzine more than anyone will know. Chris Christie the only candidate with a plan to protect our environment.

Christie and the Environment

This one will hurt Corzine more than anyone will know. Chris Christie the only candidate with a plan to protect our environment.

Rather a shame he has no plan to protect our economy which, at this point, is poised to make a final, Titanic-like plunge to the bottom of the ocean.

That - among myriad other reasons is why he will lose in November. When Corzine and Obama finish the job of destroying the economies of this nation and our state your precious "environment" will be the least of your worries, my dear.

The silver lining to this dark cloud is that the wreckage can be laid directly at the feet of the Democrat Socialist Statists (yes, they are socialists and statists). Assuming by then this nation isn't embroiled in armed revolution, you can look forward to conservative Republicans taking back the state and national legislatures in 2010.

Wake-Up Call

Morning News Digest: February 9, 2010

Garden State Equality fires new broadside at Dems Smarting over the state Senate's refusal to pass marriage equality and disillusioned at the moment with the Democratic Party majority, Garden State Equality’s 85-member Board of Directors unanimously decided against giving financial contributions to political parties and their affiliated committees. ...

Wally Edge

A handwritten note left behind during a Senate Budget and Appropriations Committee meeting indicates that Senate Majority Leader Barbara Buono (D-Metuchen) would support a plan to require all current public employees to contribute at least 1.5% of...
As New Jersey braces for another snowstorm, noteworthy is Hamilton Mayor John Bencivengo’s website, where residents can use “Snow Plow Sal” to monitor the movements of snow plows to determine when their street will be plowed.  Hamilton also has...
Just before leaving the Senate Presidency, Richard Codey (D-Roseland) appointed Orange Mayor Eldridge Hawkins to the Congressional Redistricting Commission.  Now his successor, Stephen Sweeney (D-West Deptford) is considering making his own...
Mark Anton, the Chairman of the Suburban Propane Gas Corporation, was a half-term Republican from Essex County who was elected in a 1953 special election after Alfred Clapp, who had mounted an unsuccessful campaign for the GOP gubernatorial election...
Assemblyman Herbert Conaway (D-Delanco) has dropped his bid for Burlington County Democratic Chairman, notifying party leaders by letter this weekend.  That leaves Gary Haman as the leading candidate to replace Alice Furia, who took over last...

Contributors

Everybody needs to start a new job with a list of priorities and Chris Christie is no exception. There might be a thousand things that need to get done... more »
A new Governor and Legislature offer the perfect opportunity to re-think the Trenton status quo and for experienced observers and practitioners to offer their best ideas on improving the... more »
 I grew up in a neighborhood in Newark, New Jersey where gambling was part of every day life.  Many of my relatives gambled.  The guys gambled on games, and... more »
Due to a highly inappropriate breach of etiquette by President Barack Obama in his State of the Union Address, the recent U.S. Supreme Court decision in the Citizens United... more »
When life is bad---natural disasters, families losing homes or jobs, an attack on our country, health crises--people come together and do things that are inspiringly good.  After the... more »
Our new Governor suffers from no lack of advice.  Much of it, contained in the transition reports, deserves prompt attention.  Obviously, economic prosperity benefits everyone, and – as... more »
The agenda has been ambitious.Jobs.  Homeland security.  Iraq.  Afghanistan.  Healthcare.  Energy.  Banking.   Taken together, the Obama Presidency has all the makings of a compelling story -- action, adventure, emotion,... more »
The new regime pushes the only conservative off the Budget Committee.   This is a direct result of pressure from a certain Republican County Chairperson who was hired by Garden... more »
Now that  the dust has finally settled after the grueling campaign for governor, there are a number of lessons that we can draw from this election. First and... more »
A  few years ago, my brother Paul gave me a birthday present of Tim Russert’s book, The Wisdom of Our Fathers. Great book. Read it cover to cover. Or skim... more »
New Jersey's spending and borrowing spree over the past three decades is coming home to roost.  State debt has increased 700% under both Republican and Democratic administrations, and spending... more »
On January 11th New Jersey’s 213th Legislature ended its session, followed the next day by the commencement of the 214th Legislature, with newly elected officials being sworn into office,... more »
On January 6, 2010, several newspapers published articles with titles like “no more aid for struggling cities”, “Christie will cut state aid” and the like; furthermore, in the body... more »
New Jersey Governor Chris Christie, you target teachers. That’s not a positive note to start your tenure. You forget that the Teachers’ Union makes decisions on its own, such... more »