Who will New Jersey's environmental organizations endorse for governor in the November election? It's an interesting questions...and an important one for atleast three reasons.
#1 - "The environment" will continue to rank high among issues of importance to New Jersey voters--even though the economy and jobs probably outdistance it today.
#2 - It likely will be a tight race between the two major party candidates --Democrat Jon Corzine, the current governor who's seeking a second term--and Republican Chris Christie, the state's former U.S. Attorney. So close that winning the endorsement of major enviro-groups could make the difference.
#3 - This year's race includes a serious independent candidate--former state DEP Commissioner Chris Daggett--who has bona fide environmental and political creds (no wacko Lyndon LaRouche or Green Party no-name here).Daggett also has the potential to raise enough money to influence the outcome of the race. Who knows, although unlikely, he could even win it depending on how fed up voters are with government-as-we-know-it.
One of the state's enviro-powerhouses, the Sierra Club, has been slamming the governor in recent months for what they see as his lack of follow-through on green issues and dogging him at such press events as the groundbreaking for a new Hudson River rail tunnel and the announcement of a Garden State Parkway expansion.
The media-savvy organization has made a point of getting their negative press releases into the hands (and the resulting stories) of reporters covering Corzine's "good news" events. The tactic has served to boost the Sierra Club's visibility, and remind the governor of how much more damage the activists could inflict as his campaign unfolds.
Does this mean the Sierra Club won't support Corzine's re-election? Could the group, which often appears to be little more than a Democratic party adjunct, actually endorse the (gasp) Republican candidate, Mr. Christie?
In a piece in today's PolitickerNJ, Matt Friedman reports that Sierra Club executive director Jeff Tittel " has said nice things about Christie’s record on environmental law enforcement as U.S. Attorney, though his Republican primary rhetoric on cutting the jobs at the DEP could prove problematic."
Those with longer memories will recall that the Sierra Club also was saying nice things about GOP candidate Doug Forrester four years ago during Corzine's first campaign for governor.
Of course, it was just a tactic, a way to get Corzine to pay attention (and perhaps make promises) to the Sierrans in return for their support.
The same scare tactic is at work this time around. The only difference this time is Daggett's emergence as a viable candidate. Yesterday, he announced that his campaign had raised enough money to qualify for matching state funds. If the accounting holds up, he'll qualify for at least $1 million and also will be guaranteed participation in at least two gubernatorial debates.
So, if we're to believe all of the Sierra Club's criticisms about the Democratic governor's shortcomings, and dismiss their sudden coziness with Republican Christie as the mere posturing that it is,
and believe that their sole interest is the environment, then we can expect they'll be endorsing Mr. Daggett, a proven environmental advocate. Right?
We'll, maybe. But remember: like other political "players," above whom the enviros like to place themselves, they also desire to back the winner and lay claim to some stake of power when he assumes
(or re-asssumes) control.
We'll keep watch on the Sierra Club and other enviro groups and let you know when they announce their endorsements. In the meanwhile, we invite your views. Use the comment box below. If you don't see one, click on the tiny 'comment' line and one should appear.
Related:
NJ Governor's race picks up (renewable) energy
Independent candidate Daggett hits funding threshold
Daggett files for matching funds
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There are other environmental groups in the state besides the Sierra Club, which is a group run by just one guy. I'm sure it's fun for you to write about Jeff in story after story, but he does not represent the environmental community. He's just the loudest and puts out the most press releases, period. You can no longer claim to be an environmental blog if you just cover Jeff Tittel. Either diversify your stories or change your blog to the Sierra WatchDog. We need that and a TRUE enviro politics blog in this state.
ReplyDeleteDear Anonymous,
ReplyDeleteEver hear of the word "synecdoche" ?
Unless you were an English major in college, you've probably been spared, but it refers to a figure of speech which uses a "part for the whole." That is, using a single element to embody the whole enchilada.
It's synecdoche that I've generally been employing when focusing on the Sierra Club(the part)to make a point about the whole (the generalized environmental community in New Jersey).
You make a valid point, however. The Sierrans are just one voice (although a forceful one) among many. And, as the recent debate over the open space ballot question in the NJ State Legislature dramatically demonstrated, the Sierra Club does not speak for all environmental organizations.
I can't promise to never write about them again. After all, they are the very best at generating media attention--even among us lowly bloggers-- but I will endeavor to be more judicious.
It wouldn't hurt it other groups stepped up their public communications game(hint,hint). You can't blame Jeff Tittel for getting all the headlines if he's the only one working at it.
Thanks, anonymous, for taking the time to comment. There must be many other readers who'd like to put me straight on this..and perhaps other topics, too.
Let's hear from you guys. Disagreement isn't bad. Lively discussion is good.
Editor
Press coverage for Jeff Tittel and the Sierra Club does not come about just because of press releases. Anybody can do that. Tremendous amount of hard work goes into reading and digesting regulations and legislations, covering and testifying at environmental hearings all over the state, analyzing policy and attending midnight budget sessions in Trenton. The press coverage comes about because of the insights that come from the hard work (and not spending a lot of time on chasing funding and grants).
ReplyDeleteIf Anonymous thinks that the Sierra Club is "a group run by just one guy" then he/she hasn't been coming to many of the meetings or met the staff or volunteers which make it work.
ReplyDeleteThe article states that the Sierra Club "...often appears to be little more than a Democratic party adjunct." Let me repeat something that I published in the Trenton Times. I've participated in endorsement decisions w/the NJ chapter of the Sierra Club, and was impressed not only by the fact that the chapter includes several Republicans, but also by the seriousness w/which the leaders take their charge to be nonpartisan.
ReplyDelete