See inauguration photos at www.goleader.com/photos USPS 485200 Thursday, January 21, 2010 Published Every Thursday Since 1959 (908) 232-4407 SIXTY CENTS OUR 51st YEAR – ISSUE NO. 03-2010 Periodical – Postage Paid at Rahway, N.J. www.timesnj.com [email protected] Gov. Chris Christie Takes Office: ‘Change Has Arrived’ at Statehouse By PAUL PEYTON and SONIA OWCHARIW Cranford-Westfield area. “The governor was known as a Specially Written for The Scotch Plains-Fanwood Times The new governor, who lived on hard-working and able attorney for AREA – New Jersey is under new Prospect Street in Westfield from 1987 the 14 years he was living and work- leadership with Tuesday’s swearing- to 1989 and near Tamaques Park in ing in the Westfield-Cranford area. in of former Westfielder Chris Christie 1991, was a partner in the then Cranford He took a great interest in the per- as the state’s 55th governor. law firm of Dughi, Hewit & Palatucci sonal lives of everyone at the office, Signaling the huge challenges he (now Dughi & Hewit). Prior to living always quick with a good word and faces, headed by a $1-billion short- in Westfield, he and his wife, Mary offers of help,” Mr. Palatucci told The fall this year and $10 billion starting Pat, resided in a small apartment above Scotch Plains-Fanwood Times. in July, Mr. Christie promised, “One a liquor store in Summit and later Born in Newark, Mr. Christie and person can make a difference. I will bought their first home in Cranford. his family moved to Livingston. Gov- make a difference.” One of Governor Christie’s law ernor Christie joined Dughi, Hewit & “While the economic hour is dark, partners, William Palatucci of Palatucci in 1987, becoming a partner there are brighter days ahead,” Gov- Westfield, in the Cranford firm was six years later. Governor Christie is a ernor Christie said. put in charge of organizing the inau- graduate of the University of Dela- Mr. Christie’s ascent to the State- guration along with Mr. Christie’s ware (1984) and Seton Hall Law house has its roots strongly planted in brother, Todd. While at the law firm, School (1987). According to the Uni- Union County. His new administra- Mr. Christie specialized in securities versity of Delaware website, Mr. tion also has strong ties to the law, appellate practice, election law Christie served as student govern- and government affairs. ment president in his senior year and was succeeded by his future wife. A former Morris County Freeholder and state Assembly candidate, Mr. Christie received his political big break when President George W. Bush ap- pointed him United States Attorney for New Jersey in December 2001. When President Bush first appointed him, many, Courtesy of Giovanna Palatucci including the New Jersey Bar Associa- PAST AND FUTURE…Governor Chris Christie gives his inauguration address Tuesday at the War Memorial in Trenton. tion, opposed the move, citing his lack of Pictured, left to right, are: Former Governors Thomas H. Kean, Donald DiFrancesco, Richard Codeyand Jon Corzine; state experience. But he went on to serve, Assembly Minority Leader Alex DeCroce, Senate Minority Leader Tom Kean, Jr. (LD-21, Westfield), Assembly Speaker from January 2002 to December 2008, Sheila Oliver (LD-34, East Orange), Senate President Stephen Sweeney (LD-3, West Deptford), and Mr. Christie’s former becoming the state’s longest-serving U.S. law partner William Palatucci of Westfield. Not pictured, but standing near the podium, are former Governors Brendan Attorney from New Jersey. Byrne, Christine Todd Whitman and Jim Florio. As a U.S. Attorney, Mr. Christie drew a national reputation going after and winning successful convictions of Teachers Unions React to Schundler public officials – 130 of them – with no defeats. The convictions list was highlighted by former Newark Mayor Appointment as Edu. Commissioner Courtesy of Glenn Mortimer and state Senator Sharpe James, a GLORY DAYS…New Governor Chris Christie and wife, Mary Pat, rock out to Democrat, and ex-Republican Essex By PAUL J. PEYTON said. Schundler, as well as Mr. Christie’s Bruce Springsteen hits with the B Street Band Tuesday night during an inaugural County Executive James Treffinger. Specially Written for The Scotch Plains-Fanwood Times Ginny Leiz, president of the Chief of Staff Rich Bagger, another celebration at Newark’s Prudential Center. Governor Christie and Lieutenant In his inaugural address, Mr. Christie AREA – The selection of former Westfield Board of Education, said WHS graduate, is “fabulous” for Governor Kim Guadagno were sworn into office earlier that day. said, in addition to cutting some state Westfield resident and 2001 Republi- her concern was what Governor Chris Westfield and points to the quality of programs while transforming others, can gubernatorial candidate, Bret Christie and Mr. Schundler’s posi- the town’s public school system. spending would have to be curbed at Schundler, a proponent of school tion is on moving school board elec- She said her concern is how the Bridge Construction Starts the municipal level. “We have the larg- vouchers, school choice and charter tions to November and imposing current economic crisis will impact est budget deficit per person of any schools, as education commissioner stiffer restrictions on increasing public-education funding in New Jer- state in the Union. We have the highest has drawn a mostly positive reaction school budget spending. She said pro- sey. “What does this mean for (pub- Fri.; Appointments Revealed tax rates in the nation,” he said. from local school officials, although posals in Trenton are to no longer lic) education?,” Ms. Schumacher By FRED T. ROSSI vices was appointed township insur- On Tuesday, he asserted that, concerns on possible school aid re- allow spending adjustments outside asked. “We (Westfield) don’t get a lot Specially Written for The Scotch Plains-Fanwood Times ance broker/consultant for 2010. “Crime is high, and hope is too low,” ductions and spending limits were of the current state-imposed cap of 4 of funding right now.” SCOTCH PLAINS — The first Mr. Marion announced that the four as he said too many urban school foremost on their minds. percent, or to move to a 3-percent “We are looking forward to seeing stage of construction work on the H1N1 flu vaccination clinics held in districts have failed despite massive Mr. Schundler is a product of the cap. Both proposals, she said, are to what this (new governor and educa- Route 22 bridge connecting Park the latter part of 2009 had inoculated spending per pupil. Westfield public school system, hav- move to “automatically-approved” tion commissioner) means,” Ms. Avenue with Bonnie Burn and New 4,222 individuals. He said further in- Following his election as governor ing graduated in 1977 from Westfield budgets, which would no longer go Schumacher said. “My concern…is Providence Roads will get underway formation and updates are available over incumbent Jon Corzine this past High School (WHS), where he made before voters. that there would be such a drastic cut tomorrow, Friday, January 22, two at the township’s website. He also November, Mr. Christie named former All-State in football. He later had a “I wish him (Mr. Schundler) well (in school funding) to New Jersey weeks after the scheduled start date, informed the council that TD Securi- state lawmaker and ex-Westfield career on Wall Street before being in a certainly difficult economic time,” and Westfield.” She said she hopes Township Manager Christopher ties had won a bid from among seven mayor, Richard Bagger, as his chief elected to two terms as Jersey City Ms. Leiz said. She said there is “much Westfield’s school aid would be no Marion said at Tuesday’s township that were received to renew $8.4 mil- of staff. Mr. Bagger, who served on mayor. He lost the governor’s race in uncertainty” and “real concern” as to less than flat over last year. Ms. council meeting. lion in bond anticipation notes that the Westfield Town Council and was 2001 to Jim McGreevey. the future of school funding in New Schumacher said funding cuts would No reason was given for the delay are scheduled to mature on January mayor in 1991, served for 10 years in Senator Tom Kean, Jr. (LD-21, Jersey and spending limits for boards likely mean cutting clubs and other in the start of construction, although 21, 2011. He said the notes have an the assembly. He was elected to the Westfield), the Republican leader in of education. programs for students. tree trimming and removal has been interest rate of 0.332 percent, which state Senate in 2001, but served only the state Senate, has called Mr. “It will be interesting to see how Dominick Giordano, president of underway since the start of the year Mr. Marion said was indicative of a one year before resigning due to a Schundler, “one of the most vocal the governor’s relationship with the Scotch Plains-Fanwood Education and has been especially visible at the “reasonably favorable” bond market promotion with his employer, Pfizer. advocates of charter schools and NJEA (New Jersey Education Asso- Association (SPFEA), expressed his base of the bridge at Park Avenue and for municipal debt. As a show of bipartisanship, Gover- school choice in the nation.” ciation) will play out,” Ms. Leiz said, concerns over the incoming Route 22. Lane closures on the bridge Mayor Nancy Malool thanked the nor Christie called the state’s new legis- “Bret can be expected to champion noting that the Westfield school board administration’s position on educa- itself have been in effect for the past several hundred volunteers who took lative leaders, Senate President Stephen reforms that will bring equally dra- will soon begin negotiations with the tion.