To the Editor:
When he first came into the Governor’s Office, he came as a reformer. He ran on the platform of less government, less patronage, and more accountability for elected officials. His reputation was as a crime fighter investigating political corruption. As the federal prosecutor, he demanded changes at the University of Medicine and Dentistry or he would start an investigation and prosecute those suspected of malfeasance. He launched an investigation into bribery in Hudson County that was orchestrated by a convicted criminal.
When elected governor, he demanded resignations at the Passaic Valley Sewerage Commission and was particularly irate over nepotism. Only now does it become clear that his agenda had political goals and not good government.
Plans have just been announced to break up the University of Medicine and Dentistry. At the Passaic Valley Sewerage Commission, he just installed the husband of one of his staff as executive director. Now we learn that over 50 people have been hired at the Port Authority at his direction.
Not since Boss Tweed has there been a politician as brazen as Chris Christie. Perhaps Governor Christie doesn’t know that “two wrongs don’t make a right,” or as Jon Corzine said of Chris Christie, “one set of rules for him, and another set of rules for you.”
Perhaps these contradictions are not the result of moral corruption. But at the very least, they are fraught with hypocrisy.
THOMAS BRAGEN
Republican
HUGH ROARTY
Democrat