NEWARK COUNCIL BLASTS CHRISTIE RUNNING MATE FOR SAYING SHE IS “AFRAID TO WALK ACROSS THE STREET” IN THE CITY

(NEWARK)—Members of the Newark Council today questioned Republican Lieutenant Gubernatorial candidate Kim Guadagno’s statement Tuesday that she is afraid to walk down the street in Newark.

“The Christie campaign came to Newark to open a campaign headquarters and managed to verbalize in one sentence all that is wrong with their campaign,” said North Ward Councilman Anibal Ramos.  “It is pure hypocrisy for them to say they care about Newark and its residents in one breath and, in the next, say they are afraid to walk our streets.”

At the opening of their campaign headquarters, Guadagno said, "I know what it's like to be afraid to walk across the street," referencing her time teaching classes twice a week at Rutgers Newark.

“I am stunned that the Monmouth County Sheriff would say she is afraid to walk our streets,” said Newark Council President Mildred Crump. “As someone running to be the next in line to lead this state, it is very disconcerting to hear that Sheriff Guadagno was apparently scared to set foot into the city when she was coming here to teach law.”

“After working her day job and feeling afraid on the streets in Newark, Kim Guadagno would retreat to the safe confines of her home outside of urban New Jersey,” West Ward Councilman Ron Rice said. “We local leaders, together with Governor Corzine, choose to stay and fight for better education and new schools, more job training and re-entry from prison programs, more recreation and parent support initiatives. Some choose to cut and run from challenges and some, like our Governor, choose to stay and fight for all New Jersey residents, urban and suburban.”

“The people of Newark are not a photo opportunity,” said Newark Councilman at Large Carlos Gonzalez. “We are working every day to make our resident’s lives better, make our streets safer, and improve on our children’s educations.  Christie would refuse the President’s economic stimulus, driving up our property taxes and taking away much needed funding for job creation.  Sheriff Guadagno’s statements show how cynical it is for the Christie campaign to think they can come to Newark for a press conference and pretend they have any connection with New Jersey’s cities.”

“This is the best example of why Ms. Guadagno does not deserve to represent this State as Lieutenant Governor,” Councilman at Large Donald Payne said. “If the Sheriff is afraid to walk down the streets of any municipality in the State, let alone the largest city, we don't need that. I would suggest that Monmouth County re-evaluate her competence to serve as their Sheriff. It's not about power and politics, it's about people and public service."

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