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Press Plus Endorses Bret Schundler For Governor
Originally appeared in the Press Plus on October 30, 2001
On Sept. 11, the world changed. So, too, did what we expect from our political leaders. Candidates' opinions about parkway tolls are now far less important than whether the candidates possess the leadership qualities needed in these troubled and uncertain times. Republican candidate Bret Schundler has those qualities -- thoughtfulness, intelligence, courage and commitment to principles. He takes a creative approach to problem-solving, which he demonstrated as mayor of Jersey City. And he is independent from the entrenched interests that so often stifle creativity in government. For those reasons, The Press endorses Bret Schundler for governor. We believe he is the best man for the job, even if we disagree with him on many issues. Like his Democratic opponent, Schundler seems blind to the rapidly deteriorating fiscal condition of the state and the probability that the situation will get worse before it gets better. We hope Schundler is pragmatic and flexible enough, in the face of fiscal realities, to at least defer some of his more ill-advised and costly promises - such as having taxpayers bear the cost of eliminating parkway tolls. But any proposal Schundler has made still needs to clear the state Legislature. That's a powerful bulwark against initiatives that are either unpopular or unwise. What Schundler brings to New Jersey politics is a refreshing idealism and intellectual courage. He is pro-business but hardly unsympathetic to the poor -- nor is he likely to ignore New Jersey's crumbling cities, which too many Republicans in this state have long neglected. In fact, Schundler seems most passionate when he speaks about better education for poor children and revitalizing the state's urban areas. Democrat James McGreevey is a smart, competent politician. He, too, has made expensive promises without saying where the money will come from. His overall lack of specificity during the campaign has been troubling. He has failed to offer any real vision of where the state should be going. He seems to be sitting on his lead in the polls, trying not to say anything wrong. Pragmatic? Perhaps. But hardly a profile in courage. To a far greater degree than Schundler -- who has gotten only tepid support from many Republicans -- McGreevey is a product of the political system in New Jersey. That's not necessarily bad, just limiting. Schundler appears to be an intellectually driven and principled leader. We suspect McGreevey's term in office would be that of a politically cautious, competent caretaker. These are different times. They demand a different style of government. We think Schundler would be an exceptional leader for exceptional times. He deserves your vote. |
