Christie says Cryan should get out of chairman mode

By Matt Friedman | November 24th, 2009 - 3:19pm

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JERSEY CITY -- Governor-Elect Chris Christie said that Assembly Majority Leader-Elect Joseph Cryan (D-Union), the head of the state Democratic Party, “stuck out like a sore thumb” at a press conference with other incoming legislative leaders yesterday.

While most of the other leaders said they were not willing to “waver” on core Democratic principles, they took a more conciliatory tone towards Christie. Cryan, however, had the toughest rhetoric, reminding Christie that every incumbent legislator was reelected and 47 out of 48 assembly seats remained Democratic.

“I would suggest to Mr. Cryan to get out of Democratic State Committee chairman mode, and that he get into the mode of governing,” said Christie.

Christie said that he did not hear the same tone from incoming Senate President Stephen Sweeney (D-West Deptford), Assembly Speaker-Elect Sheila Oliver (D-East Orange), Senate Majority Leader-Elect Barbara Buono (D-Metuchen) or state Sen. Paul Sarlo (D-Wood-Ridge), the incoming chair of the appropriations committee.

Christie said he looked forward to working with Cryan as majority leader, “not as chairman of his political party.”

“Maybe it’s good that they make a change at the Democratic State Committee sooner rather than later so he can change his mindset, and get into the idea that everyone else seems to be into, myself included: that it’s time to govern for the people of the State of New Jersey,” he said.

Reached by phone, Cryan kept his response short.

”I’ll be just as interested to see Mr. Christie’s transition from prosecutor to governor,” he said.

Asked about whether he agreed with Gov. Jon Corzine on getting emergency food and energy relief for New Jerseyans during the lame duck session, Christie said he is “willing to work with everybody on everything, but “The fact of the matter is we’re broke… and it’s getting worse, not better.”

“I’m going to work with the governor on things that are of absolute necessity, but this is the attitude that continues to get us in trouble to get along,” he said.

Christie made the comments in response to a question during a press conference at St. Lucy’s Shelter, where he toured the shelter’s dormitory and then spent about 10 minutes packing Thanksgiving dinners for the needy.

The event was organized by political consultant Tom Bertolli and education and reform activist Shelley Skinner, a registered Democrat who helps run the Learning Community Charter School, which Christie visited during the campaign. Skinner was named to Christie’s education transition team yesterday.

Shortly before the event, the Jersey Journal reported that Christie was subpoenaed by white supremacist blogger Hal Turner to testify at his federal trial. Turner, accused of threatening three federal judges, claims that he was an informant for the FBI and was issued a "Blanket Letter of Declination” by Christie, refusing to prosecute him.

Christie said he had not been served the subpoena and did not know about it. He cast doubt on the prospect of testifying because of the sensitive nature of internal deliberations in the U.S. Attorney’s office.

“If they really want me, we’ll obviously consult with the Justice Department and see what we’re supposed to do,” he said.

Also present at St. Lucy’s was state Sen. Sandra B. Cunningham (D-Jersey City), who is also a member of Christie’s transition team; Jersey City Department of Housing, Economic Development & Commerce Director Carl Czaplicki; and Mayor Jerramiah Healy.

As U.S. Attorney, Christie touched off the corruption investigation that ultimately ensnared scores of Jersey City officials and politicians – some of whom were close allies with Healy – and some of whom were accused of funneling bribe money into Healy’s reelection fund. And both Healy and Czaplicki, neither of whom were charged, factored into the investigation as unnamed officials – “Jersey City Official 4” and “Jersey City Official 3,” respectively. Criminal complaints from the U.S. Attorney’s Office against others recounted Healy and Czaplicki meeting with FBI informant Solomon Dwek, who was posing as a developer attempting to get politicians to speed through permits and approvals in exchange for cash (the meetings took place after Christie had left the office).

Healy said he did not find the event awkward.

“He’s the new governor, and we wish him the greatest success possible. If he’s successful, all the people I work for – a quarter of a million people in Jersey City – are going to be better off for him,” he said. “We’re rooting for him.”

Tags:

"It’s time to govern for...the State of New Jersey"

Submitted by dcdem on November 24, 2009 - 4:22pm.

Glad that the Governor-elect got off his white horse to make that statement. Does that mean he would advise all Republicans in the NJ congressional delegation to put down their rhetoric and now work with the President to address health care and climate change? If he does, I am impressed.

DCDumb

Submitted by GOPanimal on November 24, 2009 - 4:49pm.

Seems like the Governor-elect continues to makeg it clear that more spending, more taxes and more debt are the wrong answer. His advice would be better heard by the DC Dems who seem hell-bent on digging the hole deeper. No one argues that healthcare reform is needed, only whether we need to raise taxes and create giant new government bureaucracies to achieve it.

A comment I came Across in the Record

Submitted by VinCognito on November 24, 2009 - 5:21pm.

Ferriero defruads $27,000 from the Bergenfield taxpayers, and he's on the way to federal prison. US Senators pay each others hundred of millions of dollars in bribes to pass Obamacare, using taxpayer funds, and they're patriots, according to the democrats. Ferriero will be going to prison; what about the US Senators who are robbing us blind in the name of social change?

There's conciliation and there's capitulation

Submitted by dcdem on November 24, 2009 - 5:35pm.

Republicans opposed many a Corzine-initiative and I did not hear a peep from the Rs that comment on this website.

Cryan the Clown

Submitted by gorednj on November 24, 2009 - 5:41pm.

Joe is just a stammering mess for 2 reasons:

1. He knows that Gov Christie will do all he can to eliminate all the double dippers---Cryan being at the top of the list.

2. It had been at least an hour since he had a drink---in a civilized world Joe Cryan would be anything but a Representative of the people. He and his cousin in Morristown---what a shame.

Cryan's Little Attitude Needs to Go.

Submitted by roryar on November 24, 2009 - 7:32pm.

He's not doing anyone any good when he makes those snide remarks. No one expects Democrats to abandon their principles, but the the reality is that Chris Christie won. He's the governor-elect. A lot of Democrats have had a tough time coming to grips with the fact that a Democrat lost a statewide race in blue state NJ, but this is reality.

If Democrats in NJ want to complain about how the Republicans in congress have behaved towards the president, they should make sure their own house is in order and try to work with the new governor.

Spent 10 Minutes?

Submitted by NattyBumppo on November 24, 2009 - 9:07pm.

Christie only spent 10 minutes because he's a phoney who wants a photo opt making it appear as if he's really helping the needy or they only gave him 10 minutes before he started eating the turkeys!

Cryan is scared

Submitted by SDem on November 24, 2009 - 9:22pm.

As well he should be...Christie should not stop being a prosecutor>>>he should use his new found job to INVITE federal prosecutors in to investigate the likes of Cryan. Joe now who's laughing that we have elected a 350 pound Gov. Go get him Chris!

Bertoli, Huh?

Submitted by Downtown Willy on November 25, 2009 - 8:55am.

Why would the Governor Elect attend an event organized by a low life like Bertoli? His claim to fame is being Councilman Fulop's Guru. He's on the payroll for a few of these developers that have questionable building pratices such as Peter Mocco, Steve Hyman etc.. and why in the world would they invite Healy and Czaplicki? No wonder the Governor Elect stayed less than 10 minutes.

Cunningham, Bertoli, Cardwell, Smith & Chiappone

Submitted by NattyBumppo on November 25, 2009 - 11:32am.

You have to wonder about Sandra Cunningham, what's her claim to fame? She was married to a Jersey City Mayor who died in office and what else?

And look who Cunningham surrounds herself with, her two assembly people, who she fought hard to put on her ticket in 2007, have now been arrested. Harvey Smith and Tony 'Peppie' Chiappone. Smith taken down in the July 09 arrests and Peppie for state payroll check fraud.

Let's not forget Cunningham's long time advisor Joe Cardwell, arrested also in July for political corruption. Sandra still brings him around everywhere. You have to wonder, does she bring him to her transitions meetings too?

And now the Gov Elect shows up to a Jersey City together organizaed by that Hudson County/lives in Middlesex dirt bag Bertoli? What was Christie thinking? Christie is more of the same - Same old, same old.

Intresting stuff

Submitted by PC517 on November 25, 2009 - 12:42pm.

Happy Thanksgiving everyone,

How about giving all this political rancor a rest for one day and try just to be Americans?
Many of our friends and neighbors are out of work and others are sick in hospitals.

Most of us have MUCH to be thankful for like good health or a good job, and nice kids.

These issues and people will all be there on Friday to fight about...

CC

Submitted by SJBlue on November 25, 2009 - 2:40pm.

“And I was listening very carefully,” said Christie. “So listen, I know this is a tough conversion for Joe. He presided over a losing statewide election. So it’s difficult for him to get out of that mode and to admit what happened.” First and foremost CC has no room to talk, he's been rubbing it in all over the state and gave the least gracious speech of any winning candidate in the history of NJ. Advice to CC, you will have political oponents in and out of government while your governor.

Spending

Submitted by neilwied on November 25, 2009 - 7:32pm.

It never ceases to amaze me that people like Joe Cryan just can't understand the concept of being broke. We're headed into an $8 billion budget gap where, no matter what Corzine promised, thousands of public sector workers are going to be laid off and their pensions are going to be further underfunded. Yet Joe is still talking about more spending. His kind seem to think we can just tax our way into prosperity. It must be the booze.

Christie's integirty comes pretty cheap

Submitted by Number 6 on November 26, 2009 - 1:25pm.

Our new improved "conservative" Governor just played Judas to every conservative who voted for him. He said recently that he will continue the "prevailing wage" via executive order. I was shocked when NJ 101.5 reported this sad reality.

http://blogs.app.com/politicspatrol/2009/10/28/christie-billions-wasted-through-corruption/

The prevailing wage costs government bodies inordinate sums of taxpayer dollars by artificially inflating wages for labor. It was first put into effect by McGreevey, and continued by Codey and Corzine. All Christie has to do is waive his hand and put an end to this abberation. But he said he would continue one of the most left-wing, economically destructive policies ever concocted by Dems. I guess that's how he got so many union votes. Nice backroom deal CC.

Great job Governor-elect. Any chance I take back my vote?

“I will not be pushed, filed, stamped, indexed, briefed, debriefed, or numbered! My life is my own.” Number 6.

prevailing wage

Submitted by gopforever on November 27, 2009 - 11:41am.

christie is a phony. he used weak cases to eliminate effwctive dem organizations and then betrays the conservative base that got him elected. you will see many more compromises with the dems from this phony. by the way what did he promise dem sen cunningham?

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