NJ Gets New Leader But One Man's Legacy Endures

This week, New Jersey will inaugurate a new governor -- only the second woman to assume the office and the first one in 235 years to choose to take the oath of office in Newark rather than the state capital of Trenton. 

Doubtless, she will spend a lot of time looking forward and setting forth grand plans. But right now, for a few moments, I want to look back to a governor who not only set an ambitious agenda but actually carried most of it out, often in the face of overwhelming odds.

In the annals of New Jersey politics, few figures loom as large as Christopher J. Christie. Serving as the state's 55th governor from 2010 to 2018, Christie brought a brash, no-nonsense style that epitomized a elbows-up Jersey mentality. Like it or not, he was clearly on site and in charge 24/7.

Regardless of what you thought of him personally—his bombastic rhetoric, his sometimes confrontational nature or his national ambitions—one fact remains undeniable: Christie was a consequential leader who tackled big challenges head-on and delivered tangible results.

In a state often paralyzed by partisan gridlock, he forged bipartisan alliances to enact sweeping reforms that touched every corner of New Jersey, from the bustling suburbs of the north to the resilient communities of South Jersey. His tenure wasn't without controversy, but his record of getting things done speaks for itself, proving that effective governance transcends both personality and party politics.

Here’s a look at some of his key accomplishments, highlighting his knack for pushing through major initiatives that improved fiscal health, public safety, education, and more—benefits felt across the Garden State:

• Fiscal Reforms and Property Tax Relief: Christie implemented a 2% cap on property tax increases, providing much-needed relief to homeowners statewide after years of unchecked growth. This was paired with four balanced budgets that avoided tax hikes, alongside $2.35 billion in job-creating tax cuts, helping to stabilize local economies from Bergen County in the north to Cape May in the south.
• Pension and Health Benefits Overhaul: Facing a massive unfunded liability, Christie spearheaded landmark bipartisan reforms to the state's pension and health benefits system, projected to save taxpayers over $130 billion in the long term. This bold move addressed a crisis that had plagued New Jersey for decades, ensuring sustainability for public workers and retirees everywhere, including in Central Jersey's industrial hubs like Trenton and Middlesex County.
• Superstorm Sandy Recovery: In the wake of one of New Jersey's worst natural disasters in 2012, Christie led a comprehensive, bipartisan recovery effort that rebuilt housing, infrastructure, and schools. His hands-on approach secured federal aid and accelerated rebuilding along the Jersey Shore, particularly benefiting South Jersey communities like Atlantic City and the barrier islands, where tourism and livelihoods were restored faster than many expected.
• Education Reforms: Christie was the only governor in my lifetime to boldly and decisively take on the powerful New Jersey teachers union, the NJEA. "It's not the teachers I'm after," Christie said "it's the union." And he meant it.  Christie prioritized turning around failing schools by introducing accountability measures, a fair teacher evaluation system, and expanded school choice in underperforming districts. These changes aimed to give every child access to quality education, with notable impacts in urban areas like Newark in the north and my hometown of  Camden in South Jersey, where he invested in revitalization efforts including education partnerships and the deleopment of charter schools.
• Criminal Justice and Bail Reform: Pushing for smarter justice, Christie championed bail reform that virtually eliminated cash bail, focusing on risk rather than wealth, and promoted treatment over incarceration for nonviolent drug offenders through expanded drug courts. This surpassingly progressive shift reduced jail populations and saved costs, affecting communities statewide, from Hudson County in the north to rural South Jersey counties like Salem and Cumberland. Again, Christie was guided not by ideology but by what he saw as a practical response to the situation.
• Opioid Crisis Response: Recognizing the epidemic's grip on New Jersey, Christie signed a 2017 law limiting initial opioid prescriptions to five days, leading to a 26% reduction in prescriptions in its first year. He also expanded treatment programs and chaired a national commission under President Trump, helping families across the state, including in opioid-hard-hit areas like Central Jersey's Monmouth and Ocean counties and South Jersey's Gloucester County.
• Job Creation and Economic Turnaround: Under Christie's watch, and with the invaluable leadership of Lieutenant Governor Kim Guadagno, New Jersey added over 143,100 private-sector jobs after years of decline, fueled by tax incentives and reduced red tape via his Red Tape Review Commission. This economic boost was felt in diverse regions, from high-tech corridors in North Jersey's Morris County (where he once served as a freeholder) to agricultural and manufacturing sectors in South Jersey. Christie also spearheaded a casino revitalization effort for Atlantic City that completed construction of the huge Revel (now Ocean) casino/hotel and funded promotion efforts for the legendary oceanside resort.
• Adoption Records Access: After an initial veto, Christie signed legislation allowing adoptees to access their original birth certificates, a compassionate reform that aided thousands in tracing their roots, with ripple effects in family services across all parts of the state.
• Camden Police Department Overhaul and Public Safety Turnaround: Christie played a pivotal role in the bold 2013 decision to disband the struggling Camden City Police Department and replace it with a larger, county-run Camden County Police Department Metro Division. This regional approach increased officer numbers (from around 260 to nearly 400), emphasized community policing, de-escalation training, and foot/bike patrols to build trust. The result was a dramatic drop in violent crime—including halving the murder rate and reducing overall crime significantly—transforming one of America's most dangerous cities into a national model for reform, with benefits felt deeply in South Jersey's Camden community.
• Advancing Higher Education and Healthcare in South Jersey: Christie supported and signed the 2012 New Jersey Medical and Health Sciences Education Restructuring Act, which elevated Rowan University to research university status, transferred UMDNJ's School of Osteopathic Medicine to Rowan, and facilitated partnerships that strengthened medical education in the region. This built on the establishment of the Cooper Medical School of Rowan University (opened in 2012), the first new four-year M.D.-granting medical school in South Jersey in decades. Christie attended and spoke at its grand opening, highlighting its role in addressing physician shortages, boosting healthcare access, and sparking economic growth through collaboration between Rowan, Rutgers-Camden, and Cooper University Hospital—delivering long-term benefits to South Jersey's residents and economy.

These achievements underscore Christie's ability to navigate a Democratic-controlled legislature and deliver on big-ticket items that required tough choices and cross-aisle collaboration. From the shorelines of South Jersey, where Sandy recovery funds rebuilt boardwalks and homes, to the urban centers of the north and the heartland of Central Jersey, his policies left a lasting imprint—including transformative public safety and educational advancements in Camden and beyond. 

Though Christie may not have left office with the highest popularity ratings of his tenure, history judges leaders by their impact, not their popularity polls. Christie proved that in a divided era, a governor with grit can still move mountains. New Jersey is stronger for it—flaws and all. And I, for one, have always been proud to support Chris Christie and to follow him (as I told him myself) "not matter what" -- which is exactly what I have done!

Thank you, Governor Christie! The current outgoing Governor's record is lilliputian next to yours and likewise, the incoming governor has the stature of a centipede alongside you. You da man!