Democratic Congressman Josh Gottheimer prides himself as being a Jersey guy – someone who loves Bruce and bagels, the Shore, the state’s diversity and its great schools.
He also prides himself on being a straight talker, an elected official who actually listens to his constituents.
So, as he announced his intention to run for governor Friday at the Runway Diner in South Hackensack, he said the biggest focus of his campaign will be an issue everyone can rally around: Making New Jersey more affordable.
“Jersey has become too damn expensive,” he said. “We pay too much in taxes and too much just to live.
“It’s time for a reboot.”
To be sure, this isn’t a new revelation.
And how Gottheimer will make New Jersey more affordable isn’t immediately clear – though he rattled off a long list of taxes he intends to cut, a platform perhaps more noted for the other party.
Why he’s saying it, is easier to answer.
Two weeks after the Democrats took a beating in the presidential election, Gottheimer is taking a more centrist approach.
So said Patrick Murray, the director of the Polling Institute at Monmouth University, who was at the announcement.
“We’re seeing somebody who’s obviously not running for the extremes of the party,” Murray said. “He’s not looking at the primary electorate in the way a lot of other Democrats have looked in the past. He’s trying to create a broad tent.
“He was always going to run that type of campaign, what’s changed is the environment, and it makes it even more potent for him to be able to do that, because a lot of Democrats right now are coming to a reckoning of, ‘We don’t want to lose elections.’”
Gottheimer enters an already crowded Democratic field, one that includes Jersey City Mayor Steve Fulop, Newark Mayor Ras Baraka, former State Sen. President Steve Sweeney and N.J. Education Association President Sean Spiller. Congresswoman Mikie Sherrill is expected to announce her bid on Monday.
Gottheimer said he’s counting on his experience as a five-term Congressman (he is co-chair of the problem solvers caucus) and in the business world (jobs at Ford and Microsoft) to separate himself from the pack.
He’s got a supporter in Fair Lawn Mayor Gail Friedberg Rottenstrich, who also serves as the CEO of Zago Manufacturing in Newark.
She said she has seen Gottheimer ability up close – and how it has benefited her town.
“What he’s saying – lowering taxes and improving services – is possible,” she said. “I’ve seen it in Fair Lawn. He brought millions and millions of dollars in federal money to improve our water infrastructure. We got a better system and our taxes went down.”
That’s the pitch Gottheimer made throughout his launch: Lower taxes, better service – all while maintaining traditional New Jersey values.
“I’m launching my campaign for governor to cut your taxes and make New Jersey more affordable again,” he said. “Back to basics: Your health care costs, utility bills, rent, groceries and taxes – it’s all too much and needs to go down.
“As governor, I will lower taxes and lower costs and help you and your family get ahead. I’ll do it while protecting the values we believe in.”
