GOP Uses Technicality to Oust Corzine Supporters from School Grounds

Supporters of Republican gubernatorial nominee Chris Christie used a regulatory loophole to oust supporters of Democratic Gov. Jon Corzine from the high school steps before a campaign event for Christie Thursday afternoon.

The Corzine supporters were waving anti-Christie signs on the steps, and on the sidewalk in front of the high school, in anticipation of the arrival of Christie and running mate Kim Guadagno. The signs attacked Christie on the subject of no-bid contracts he awarded while U.S. Attorney to former Attorney General John Ashcroft and other former federal prosecutors. Corzine has made the issue a key line of attack against Christie and a congressional subcommittee took testimony from Christie on the issue last month.

Councilwoman Joann Neylan, who helped organize the event, and former Summit Common Council President P. Kelly Hatfield were overheard discussing the issue of the Corzine supporters on the steps and looking for a way to take them off the steps, after the supporters obtained interest from the media covering the event. Neylan approached school officials asking them to inquire about the Corzine supporters having submitted a certificate of insurance to use the school grounds. Organizations looking to use school property need to submit a certificate to the school district before permission is granted.

"My understanding is that when an organization asks to have something at the high school, they need to submit a certificate of insurance," Neylan said in an interview after the event, noting the Christie campaign had filled out the paperwork with school officials.

The Corzine supporters were asked to leave the steps after confirming that they had not submitted the paperwork.

It is common for opposing campaigns to send supporters waving signs to taunt a candidate prior to a campaign event. It is also common for campaigns to seek to remove the opposing campaign's supporters from public view.