Christie Defeats Corzine in Westfield

Republican Chris Christie carried Westfield on his way to capturing the governorship Tuesday night.

Christie, a former U.S. Attorney, won 5,782 votes in town compared to 4,448 votes for Democratic Gov. Jon Corzine. Independent candidate Chris Daggett, a former state envionmental protection commissioner, received 830 votes in town. Seventy votes were divided among minor party candidates.

Westfield, which was carried by Corzine in his successful campaign against Republican Doug Forrester in 2005, was considered a key part of the Republican's statewide hopes. Christie political consigliare William Palatucci is a Westfield resident and Senate Minority Leader Tom Kean Jr. (R-Westfield) and Assemblyman Jon Bramnick (R-Westfield) were determined not to let the Republican lose in town. Bramnick was briefly considered by the governor-elect as a running mate for lieutenant governor.

Christie campaigned in town several times, including two public stops since the June primary. His running mate, Monmouth County Sheriff Kim Guadagno, campaigned in town five times since joining the ticket in July. Guadagno made three stops in town in the last two weeks of the race. The lieutenant governor-elect toured the Christie phone bank in town with Republican National Chairman Michael Steele a week and a half ago.

In addition to Palatucci, Kean and Bramnick, Christie's local win is viewed as a victory for Second Ward Councilwoman Joann Neylan, who served as regional head of Women for Christie.

Christie swept all four wards and carried all but a handful of election districts. Corzine pulled off wins in election districts in the First and Fourth Wards.