Governor Christie picked up the support of River Edge’s Democratic mayor, while three council members are backing state Sen. Barbara Buono for governor.
River Edge Mayor Sandy Moscaritolo is endorsing Governor Christie’s re-election bid, but the Republican incumbent didn’t win over all the elected Democrats in the borough.
The three Democratic council members – Council President Thomas Papaleo, Councilwoman Kathleen Murphy and Councilman Vito Aquafredda – announced Monday that they are endorsing Democrat Barbara Buono for governor.
Buono, a Middlesex County state senator, was campaigning at River Edge Day Sunday when Christie’s campaign announced Moscaritolo was the 49th Democrat to endorse the governor. There are 10 percent more registered Democrats in the borough, though a large number of voters are not affiliated with a political party.
With Bergen County being the most populous in the state, Buono and Christie have both focused their attention on picking up votes and endorsements. While the county overwhelmingly voted to give President Obama a second term last year, voters also elected Republicans to countywide office in 2010. In 2009, Christie lost the county to Democratic Gov. Jon Corzine by less than 6,000 votes, 121,446 to 127,386.
Christie has said that his fundraising advantage and lead in the polls gives him an opportunity to spend more time campaigning in typically Democratic areas, including southern Bergen County, where he plans to greet supporters a campaign office tonight in Carlstadt.
Moscaritolo cited Christie’s work with Democrats to place a cap on local property tax increases and changes to keep the state’s pension and benefits system afloat among his reasons for endorsing the Republican.
“Governor Christie has an unwavering willingness to do what is right, not merely what is popular, as he displayed throughout the aftermath of superstorm Sandy,” Moscaritolo said in a statement released by Christie’s campaign. “He deserves another four years as the governor of New Jersey and I am proud to endorse him for reelection.”
The Democratic council members said taxes have increased by 18 percent during Christie’s first term in office and many residents are still unemployed.
“Members of the council have seen firsthand over the past four years the devastating impact of Governor Christie’s failed economic policies,” Papaleo said in a statement released by Buono’s campaign. “Too many of our friends and neighbors cannot find work and are saddled with skyrocketing property taxes. Senator Buono is the leader we need right now to fight for the middle class and turn New Jersey’s economy around.”
