June 24, 2008 - 12:06pm
Wilson: In event Christie is GOP nominee for Gov., Kyrillos good fit for Lt. Gov
By Max PizarroSpeculation about who would run for lieutenant governor on a ticket
GOP State Chair Tom Wilson with potential GOP gubernatorial candidate Chris Christie amounts to a parlor room game, according to State Republican Chairman Tom Wilson.
U.S. Attorney Christie has not said publicly that he intends to challenge Gov. Jon Corzine in 2009, but the lawman who has a sterling record cracking down on public corruption remains the party’s superstar.
Gender. Geography. Ethnicity. All of these factors come into play when Republicans consider who could strongly stand with Christie as a candidate for lieutenant governor.
But ultimately, said Wilson, "If Chris is the nominee, his running mate for lieutenant governor has to be someone who shares his priorities and his sense of ethics."
That makes veteran state Sen. Joseph Kyrillos (R-Monmouth) a very viable candidate in the state chairman’s opinion.
"Joe Kyrillos is a longtime friend of Chris who understands the nuts and bolts of government," said Wilson. "He is a smart and thoughtful legislator and you would have to put him at or near the top of anyone’s list."
Wilson said other lawmakers who might pair well with Christie include state Sen. Diane Allen (R-Burlington), state Sen. Jennifer Beck ®-Monmouth), and Burlington County Freeholder Aubrey Fenton.
"It will come down to who shares Chris’s priorities and passions," Wilson said. "It might end up being someone outside the realm of government."
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Syndicate
The state chair's language is pretty definitive.
"It will come down to..."
Time to cut bait, Mr. Candidate.
Who wants
TO sink on the SS Christie
Fenton
Would be an interesting candidate. He's probably the most prominent black Republican in the state from an increasingly politically competitive part of the state. Pretty effective communicator and well respected in the Party.
Joe Kyrillos & Jen Beck are also good names to be on a short list too. Both are well qualified minorty candidates from another increasingly competitive county.
Choo Choo Kyrillos?
Wison's bong backed up...Kyrillos does not fit anywhere. He belongs in the RINO Hall of Shame.
"We will have peace when they love their children more than they hate us" ~ Golda Meir
Already setting up for defeat
The GOP is already trying to replay history ... more of the same liberal candidates to run a campaign based upon being a little less liberal than the Democrats (and 2 liberals on the ticket only makes the problem worse).
When will they ever realize they need to run a solid Republican with experience and a record to back up their statements who has more than the issue of "ethics" to win a statewide race? Not only has ethics been a losing issue in the past (and will not be any different in the future), but Christie allows the Dems to portray him as a George Bush political appointment lacky (not to mention the Ashcroft appointment) who is a flip flopper and couldn't even beat John Murphy in a primary. .... yeah, great choice.
However by next year the Republican base should have enough momentum and strength to force off another candidate selected in back rooms by the establishment.
They might all be nice people, but they are nothing but a sure way to lose the governor's seat currently being handed to Republicans on a silver platter.
Ashcroft should run.
The ashcroft/gonzalez joke called the justice dept will destroy any chance of political aspirations of anyone from the US Attorney's offices, anywhere, even in NJ. Hell, it might hurt the sitting governor. We shall see, now won't we.
Spare Us
One issue the Democrats have handed the GOP on a silver platter in Bergen County is consolidation - both our Democratic Governor and County Exec want to force our small towns to merge and destroy home rule. It would be a shame if the GOP were to nominate for Lt. Governor Mr. Kyrillos who is one of the few pro-consolidation GOP politicians around.
Kyrillos
He's pretty good on the stump, and would be a solid attack dog.
Not sure that Christie is going to go with a Trenton insider though (whether it be O'Toole, Beck, etc).
His platform is obviously going to be a crime-busting crusader. Kyrillos has played a lot of "inside baseball" and has had ties to some quasi-shady developers.
My bet is Christie finds a similarly reform-minded Mayor, should one exist.
Marty Marks for LG
A good campaigner and attack dog. Appeal to the right wing in both parties.