Christopher Christie, who served seven years as New Jersey’s top federal prosecutor, began his bid for governor yesterday by saying he’s the man to fix a broken state government.
Christie addressed about 200 Republican supporters at the New Jersey Performing Arts Center in Newark, where he pledged to cut taxes and limit state spending and borrowing. He said he has a four-year plan to add jobs and bring fiscal discipline to the Statehouse.
“In nine months, I am confident that we are going to bring a real difference to this state and we are going to change Trenton in some very serious ways,” Christie said.
Christie, who was appointed US attorney for New Jersey by President George W. Bush, built a reputation as a corruption-buster as he amassed an unbroken streak of more than 130 political-corruption convictions.
Christie vowed to bring fiscal integrity to one of the most indebted states in the nation.
“We will deliver results so we can restore your faith and your trust in the idea that government can really work,” he said.
The 46-year-old Morris County resident would have to defeat three Republican opponents in the June primary to run against Democratic Gov. Jon Corzine in the November election.
A Quinnipiac poll yesterday showed Christie ahead of Corzine, 44 to 38 percent.