New governor for New Jersey
News on 17 Jan 2018
News on 17 Jan 2018
Atlantic City’s parent state, New Jersey has a new governor following the inauguration Tuesday of Democrat and former Wall Street executive Phil Gordon (60) and the departure of Chris Christie, governor for the past eight years and a former state Attorney General.
The new governor built a fortune as an executive at Golden Sachs, part of which he deployed to help win the Democratic Party nomination for governor last year. He follows in the footsteps of Jon Corzine, a Goldman Sachs exec who was governor of New Jersey until he was ousted by Christie in 2009.
Murphy’s resume includes several years as ambassador to Germany for the Obama administration.
Murphy took a combative note in his inaugural address, pledging to transform the state into a liberal beacon that fights back against President Donald Trump, and referring to the racist allegations that have recently swirled around the US president.
“We will resist every move from President Trump and a misguided Republican Congress,” Murphy said in his roughly-half-hour-long inaugural address.
He called for the wealthy to pay higher taxes, and a $15 minimum wage.
President Trump called Murphy and new Democratic Virginia Gov. Ralph Northam on Sunday to congratulate them. The White House said that Trump and Murphy agreed to work together and to seek improvements to the country’s infrastructure.
Murphy was sworn in by state Supreme Court Chief Justice Stuart Rabner, using John F. Kennedy’s bible. Murphy’s running mate, former Assemblywoman Sheila Oliver, was sworn in as lieutenant governor.
The new governor thanked Christie for over two decades of public service to the state.
In a tweet after the inauguration, Christie wrote: “Thank you to all the people of New Jersey for the honor of being your Governor for the last eight years. It was a true privilege.”
Local media both praised and criticised the Christie years, highlighting achievements and failures but for most part criticising Christie for his allegedly forceful, arrogant and bullying approach to governance and a notoriously short temper.
