Some Twp. Christie Fans Want Gov. to Stay in N.J.

Mayor John Malay, a Republican, was among those who said he would not want New Jersey's Gov. Christie to seek the U.S. presidency. Malay said he has his own "selfish" reasons for feeling that way, a feeling shared by at least a few other locals in Bernards Township.

"I personally don't want him to run since I would like him to finish up the job he started here," Malay said before noon, when updated information said Christie was likely to announce he would not be running for president.

Shortly after 1 p.m., Amanda Stevens, manager at Fresh restaurant in The Hills in Basking Ridge, said she also wants Christie to stay in New Jersey.

"I am glad he's not running, because there's still so much he can do for the state," Stevens said. She added she feels Christie also is not quite ready to climb onto the national political arena. "Maybe in 2016."

At 1 p.m., Christie definitively announced he would not leave "unfinished business" in his role as governor of New Jersey.

"I am doing a job I love, in the state I grew up in," Christie announced. Christie said did not "preclude any employment in the future," even as president.

But, Christie said, "Now is not my time. I have a commitment to New Jersey that I will not abandon." He said he will not leave unfinished his job to fix "a broken New Jersey."

If Christie were ever to run, Malay said, "I think he would make an excellent president."

"I like the fact that he's a leader," the Republican mayor said of the Republican governor. He said Christie "has his own ideas," articulates clearly what he feels should be done — and then follows through.

Malay said that is his idea of what makes a leader. About an hour later, during his speech, Christie himself faulted President Obama for what he said is the current president's lack of leadership and deciveness.

"There's no substitute for knowing how to lead," Christie said. "Everything else can be taught."

In his observations, Malay added he believes the New Jersey governor realizes he would be better off staying in his home state, for now. "That doesn't mean I would rule him out for 2016," unless he might decide not to run against another Republican who might be elected in 2012, the mayor said.

As they enjoyed a cup of coffee outside Dunkin' Donuts, Bob Bercik and his wife Bridget, from the Liberty Corner section of Bernards Township, also said they are happy Christie is not now seeking the presidency of the U.S.

"I think he's doing a good job here in New Jersey," Bob Bercik said. "I think he make a better candidate by showing that he can really effectively lead a state." He added, "He's made a good start in two years."

If Christie does want to take on a bigger role as president in the future, Bridget Bercik said, "If he wants to run, I think he should get healthy, and take care of himself."

Another township resident, Frank Sauro, said that unlike many others, he himself does not have strong feelings about Christie as a politician.

"I see good points, I see bad points," Sauro said. He then added, "In my opinion, he doesn't have the experience to be president."

During his speech, Christie said he will continue to do the job to which he has been elected, as governor, with education reform as one of his major priorities.

Meanwhile, the president of the Board of Education — which had felt the brunt of state aid cuts to Bernards Township during the past few years, although a substantial portion of that aid was returned earlier this year — said she had no comment on whether she would want Christie to run, or whether he might make a good president.

"As board members, we are supposed to be apolitical and non-partisan," said Susan Carlsson, school board president for Bernards Township schools.

When told that Christie is not running for president, 20-year-old Mike Ingrassia, an employee at Fresh, responded, "Thank God."

"I know a lot of people don't really like him," Ingrassia said of the state governor. But he added that he himself is not really into politics. The Scotch Plains resident said he does not have much of an opinion about the state's governor.