Conor Culloton, Assistant Account Executive
I may not be a registered voter in the state of New Jersey, but if I were, I probably would not have voted for Governor Chris Christie. That being said, even if I don’t agree with the recently re-elected governor of the Garden State on many issues, I have to appreciate Christie for what he is: a genuine, likeable politician that this nation needs. In an era of extreme partisan tension, politicians that don’t enrage people on the opposite side of the aisle with their every word are worth more than a credible reputation in the media as a collaborative leader. They are crucial to maintaining an efficient democracy.
After all of the needless criticism he took from Republican hard-liners for working in tandem with the federal government during relief efforts for Superstorm Sandy, Christie celebrated a year of rebuilding on the boardwalk and addressed his flock in a way that only the most likeable politicians can. During his speech, Christie mentioned his quote from that tense time before the storm hit, when he told the most stubborn “Jersey Shore” types to “get the hell off the beach.”
An elected official must serve everyone when elected, including the constituents that voted for the other candidate. A large part of that duty is bringing people together, and language is a great way of doing so. As another example, I point to Chicago’s propensity for electing Daleys, because they were members of our fold, right? Both Richard J. and Richard M. may not have been ivy-league educated, but they talked like Chicagoans, they acted like Chicagoans and they lived like Chicagoans. The proof of their ability to connect with a city and gain the respect and admiration of its people is measured in the years served – over 40 years in office combined.