Politics & Government

Bramnick Supports Guadagno Pick, Not Disappointed About Being Passed Over for Lt. Gov.

Assemblyman had discussed lieutenant governor slot with Christie.

Assemblyman Jon Bramnick, R-Westfield, expresses no disappointment about being passed over for lieutenant governor on the Republican ticket and expressed his support for the pick, Monmouth County Sheriff Kim Guadagno.

Republican gubernatorial nominee Chris Christie announced Monday morning his choice of Guadagno to be the state's first lieutenant governor. Christie's short list included Bramnick, State Sen. Diane Allen, R-Burlington County and Bergen County Clerk Kathe Donovan.

"I've heard only good things about her," said Bramnick, who does not know Guadagno personally. "Everything about her is that she's smart, talented and organized."

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Bramnick, the Assembly minority whip, said he had several conversations with Christie regarding the lieutenant governorship. He declined to detail the specifics of the conversations, saying he did not want to breach the personal nature of the chats. He said that he was honored to have been considered for the position.

"The truth of the matter is I have a law practice and political responsibilities," said Bramnick, who chairs the Westfield Republican Committee. "I wasn't lobbying for the job."

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Bramnick said that if Christie had pressed him on the position or offered the slot to him, he would have seriously considered the race. In order to make the run for lieutenant governor, Bramnick would have had to abandon his bid for a fourth term in the Assembly.

The possibility of Bramnick being Christie's running mate was not greeted warmly by the conservative wing of the state GOP. A leader of the party's moderate wing, Bramnick did not fair well in an unscientific online poll on a blog that focuses on conservative politics in New Jersey. He finished last in one poll and close to last in a second.

Guadagno is in her first term as Monmouth's sheriff. She is a former federal prosecutor in Brooklyn and Newark, and was an assistant state attorney general. She previously served as an elected city commissioner in Monmouth Beach, where she headed the public works department. As a federal prosecutor, she handled a variety of political corruption cases, along with the case of Cranford school business administrator Jeanette Flora Nixon, who was convicted of embezzling milk money.

Democratic Gov. Jon Corzine has not announced a running mate yet. Media reports indicate that Corzine's short list includes The Apprentice winner Randall Pinkett, State Sen. Loretta Weinberg, D-Teaneck, State Sen. Barbara Buono, D-Metuchen and Passaic County Freeholder Director Tahesha Way. The governor has until next Monday to pick a running mate.

Bramnick said it is too early to indicate if Guadagno would be campaigning in Westfield during the fall campaign. Westfield is considered a must-win town for the Christie/Guadagno ticket and several of Christie's top advisors and supporters live in town. He did say that the pick makes him more confident for Christie's chances in the fall.

"They found somebody who is smart and talented," Bramnick said. "I think we have a shot."


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