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Schundler Takes Oath As Jersey City Mayor, Heralds 'New Beginnings'
Originally appeared in the Star Ledger on
July 2, 1993
Republicans and Democrats stood shoulder to shoulder in sun
drenched Liberty State Park yesterday to help inaugurate Bret Schundler as mayor of Jersey City.
The first Republican in 75 years to serve as chief executive of this Democratic stronghold called for "new beginnings" after receiving wishes for success and pledges of support from Gov. Jim Florio and Christine Todd Whitman, his Republican challenger.
Schundler, 34, a former Democrat, insisted that the party labels will mean little in his administration because he believes government must reform itself as it tries to solve society's problems.
In a reflective, 45
minute address in which he quoted the bible, New York Gov. Mario Cuomo, Lord Acton and psychologist Abraham Maslow, the former Wall Street executive pledged to put more cops on the beat, clean up the streets and empty lots, require welfare recipients to work and improve city recreation programs.
"But even more fundamentally, we will strive to teach our children positive values so that they have positive goals to live for, and so that they are not tempted to break the law or litter in the first place," the mayor said.
A major part of his speech was devoted to repeating his pledge to give parents vouchers they could use to pay for their children's education in schools of their choice. The proposal is opposed by the National Education Association.
"Today we spend nearly $9,200 in taxes for every child in our Jersey City public school system, and yet a majority of our students drop out before they graduate," Schundler said. "It is time we give our children true opportunity through giving empowerment and school vouchers a try."
Schundler spoke after the oath of office was administered shortly before 12:30 p.m. by his wife, Lynn and attorney. His mother, Gertrud, held the Bible.
The two
hour ceremony was held in a field adjacent to the former Central Railroad of New Jersey Terminal, which was a thriving commuter and freight hub until 1967 and declared a landmark after the park opened in 1976.
A huge American flag, suspended from the aerial ladders of the two city fire trucks, provided the dais with a patriotic background. Just beyond the Hudson River rose the Manhattan skyline.
Schundler made note of the setting, just a stone's throw from the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island.
Approximately 12 million immigrants entered the U.S. through Ellis Island and about two
thirds headed for inland points through terminals like the Jersey Central's. A large number stayed in Jersey City, and the trend has not stopped. Schundler noted, because immigrants today compose 25 percent of the population of the state's second largest city.
He said this was necessary because government was spending too much unproductively and "because of its fixation on bureaucratic approaches."
This has led to a philosophy of entitlement, Schundler said. However, he said the blame for this had to be shared by both political parties.
Similarly, he said his lopsided win over Democratic organization
backed Louis Manzo "does not suggest a victory of party."
Rather, Schundler said his election transcended party because "it proves that people do not dream partisan dreams" but long to put their trust in leaders who will unite them in their differences and help them realize the American dream.
"I am here to tell you that I have heard you, that my heart is with you, and that I will fight for you to re
establish community standards of common decency and respect and order and to ensure that every child, wether rich or poor, has the chance to grow up safe and secure within every neighborhood of this city," he said.
As he spoke, two former governors, Democrat Brendan Byrne and Republican Thomas Kean, sat behind him along with Senate President Donald DiFrancesco (R, Union) and Assembly Speaker Garabed (Chuck) Haytaian (R, Warren).
Jack Kemp, former secretary of housing and urban development, also spoke, saying the reforms enacted in Jersey City will have an impact not only there bu in every city in the nation.
The last Republican to serve as Jersey City's mayor was Mark Fagan, who was ousted in 1917 by the legendary Frank Hague.
Fagan was also the first mayor to win a second term after losing his first bid for re
election. That feat was not duplicated until 1989, when Gerald McCann beat Anthony Cucci, who had ousted him four years earlier.
McCann, however, was forced from office in February 1992 after his conviction for mail fraud and income tax evasion. Afterward, the city council could come to no consensus on the appointment on an interim mayor so two of its presidents served until a special election last November.
In a field of 19 candidates, Schundler took first place with 16 percent of the vote.
Although Democrats contended this was an aberration, Schundler went on to win a full, four
year term with 68 percent of the turnout. In a city where 70 percent of the registered voters are Democrats, Manzo received 30 percent of the vote in the three
way race. Also elected was Schundler's entire slate of nine council candidates, whose oaths of office were administered yesterday by state Supreme Court Justice Marie Garibaldi.
Schundler, the youngest of nine children, was born in Morristown and grew up in the Colonia section of Woodbridge before moving to Westfield, where he was named a first team All
State lineman by The Star
Ledger.
After his graduation from Harvard University, he worked on the staff of Roy Dyson, a Democratic congressman from Maryland. In 1984, he was New Jersey coordinator for Democrat Gary Hart's first presidential campaign.
The next year, he moved to Jersey City and worked for Salomon Brothers and C.J. Lawrence in 1990 and became a self
employed financial manager. He then became a registered Republican and challenged Democrat Edward O'Connor in the 1991 state Senate race, polling 45 percent of the vote.
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