Corzine stumps at backyard barbecue
Excites the party faithful and talks issues in Middletown
BY KAREN E. BOWES
Staff Writer

PHOTOS BY BOB TULLY At left, Sen. Jon Corzine greets fellow Democrats at the home of Alex DeSevo in Lincroft on Saturday. At right, DeSevo, Corzine and Steve Borbely enjoy themselves at the barbecue. DeSevo and Borbely are running for Township Committee in November; Corzine is running for governor.

Sipping Diet Pepsi and posing for pictures with fans, Sen. Jon Corzine never stopped smiling.

“I’ve had a blessed life,” said the Democratic gubernatorial candidate and self-made multimillionaire. “There’s no reason why I shouldn’t help others.”

The former stockbroker turned politician made a campaign stop in the Lincroft section of Middletown Saturday afternoon at a backyard barbecue hosted by Alex DeSevo, a Democratic candidate running for Township Committee.

“I always come to Middletown with a sense of sadness,” said Corzine later in the afternoon. “So many were lost on 9/11. You can’t ever put that behind you. And if we ever needed a reminder, we got it this week.”

After referring to the terrorist attacks in London, Corzine pledged, if elected, he would “work to secure the rail lines and ports” in the Middletown area.

Insuring the uninsured, especially children, and conducting a property tax convention were also on Corzine’s to-do list.

“The burden should go where people have the ability to pay, not based on the value of the home,” said Corzine.

Another hot topic — the possible closure of Fort Monmouth.

“[Fort Monmouth] is a real asset for our nation, not just New Jersey,” Corzine said. “We’ve put together — Republicans and Democrats together — a bipartisan plan of reasons to protect Fort Monmouth. It’s about making sure we have the smartest people working on this.”

Fighting sprawl, or not succumbing “willy-nilly to the will of developers,” was also mentioned briefly by the senator before discussing government corruption.

“We have had a breakdown in ethics as a government,” said Corzine, noting Democrats have not been innocent in the breakdown. “I’m not getting into government to have the reputation that people get into government to make money.”

Corzine advocates having an elected state controller to oversee all government contracts as a way of lessening the chance of corruption.

“Somebody other than the governor has to be able to say, ‘This isn’t operating right,’ ” Corzine said.

Host DeSevo’s running mate for Township Committee, Steve Borbely, joked about the popular fashion choice of the day: blue blazers were worn by every male Democrat running for office, including Corzine, Congressman Frank Pallone, and 13th District Assembly candidates Mike Dasaro and Bill Flynn.

“What can I say? When you go shopping for men’s blazers, your choices are very limited,” said Borbely.

Also on hand at the barbecue were Monmouth County freeholder candidates Rebecca Aaronson and Barbara McMorrow. The pair spent the day campaigning alongside Corzine.

“We’re starting to feel like groupies,” joked Aaronson.