After the poll numbers show you’ve won a hard-fought senate battle, and your victory party has wound down, what comes next? Saying thank you to the people that voted for you? That never happens!
But it did happen this past Wednesday when millionaire and political novice Jon Corzine, a Democrat, made his first appearance as a U.S. Senator-elect in Union City. Corzine visited the Housing Authority’s Hillside Pavilion on Kennedy Boulevard and 39th Street for a luncheon given by Congressman Robert Menendez (D-33rd Dist.), who had won a less-heated race Tuesday.
“I am glad he wanted to come here,” said Menendez, who added that Corzine had said on Election Day that he would make this visit whether he won or lost. “Sometimes we don’t see the people we elect for a long time after they are elected. I admire that he wanted to come back here.”
According to Menendez, 85 percent of the voters in Union City voted Democratic on Tuesday.
“I know that the cornerstone of my election was built in Hudson County,” said Corzine to the cheering crowd of residents who turned out for the event. “[New Jersey] is just a very complicated state. You have to do well, if you are a Democrat, in Hudson County.”
Giving thanks
Maybe it was the first time that Commissioner Michael Leggiero met Corzine on Bergenline Avenue that made the residents of Union City vote for him, or maybe it was his visiting the senior citizen buildings with Commissioner Tina Yandolino. However, whatever the reason was, the residents continued to show their support for the new senator.
“After reading the papers and watching the news, you know what you want,” said Adele Lyons, a resident of Union City for 48 years.
And apparently, Union City wanted Corzine.
“I know he is going to work very diligently for the needs of the residents of Union City and Hudson County,” said Yandolino. “Along with our congressman, Robert Menendez, we have a great team.”
Corzine said that he is going to work very closely with Menendez, who also took a large percentage of the votes in Union City on Tuesday, to help the city get the services that it needs.
“I am going to fight for a government that works for everyone, especially our Latino community that often gets left out,” said Corzine.
“This is a community with a very large Latino population with great needs that produced big time for him,” added Menendez. “I am glad that he came so quickly to show his appreciation.”
Union City’s largely Hispanic population has traditionally been a Democratic population.
“We have an enormous opportunity to make a difference,” said Menendez. “We woke up yesterday and helped elect Jon Corzine to the U.S. Senate.”
Corzine has favored policies to aid the poor including universal health care coverage.
Won’t be the last time
Corzine plans on making many trips back to Union City and Hudson County during his term. “Robert Menendez is what being a Democrat is,” said Corzine, about how Menendez comes back into the community that he represents. “He is inclusive. I want to hear what is on people’s minds and what they want to see.”
Corzine is also looking forward to working with the First Lady and senator-elect in New York Hillary Clinton on the transportation and Port Authority issues that effect both states.
However. Corzine admitted that he hasn’t been keeping up with the presidential election news. “There are two sharply different roads to follow with the two candidates,” he said.