Area: Guadagno Goes Door-to-Door in Westfield

Monmouth County Sheriff Kim Guadagno, the Republican nominee for lieutenant governor, brought her campaign to Westfield Monday afternoon as she went door-to-door in parts of the First Ward.

Guadagno, who was led by Senate Minority Leader Tom Kean, Jr., R-Westfield, visited several homes on Charles Street and in the townhouses on Cowperthwaite Square across from Roosevelt Intermediate School discussing various issues with voters. During the hour-long appearance, Guadagno, who is the running mate of Republican gubernatorial nominee Chris Christie, was questioned by voters about taxes, health care, landlord/tenant issues, education and state spending.

"I love going door-to-door," said Guadagno, who has been doing the grassroots campaign tactic, which is a staple of local campaigns, since starting her statewide race in July. "You get to talk to people and hear the issues."

Guadagno, who campaigned door-to-door in her races for Monmouth Beach town commissioner and sheriff, said she has primarily heard about property taxes during her travels to doorsteps around the state. As is traditional in statewide candidates' stops, Guadagno was joined by a group of local GOP leaders, including Kean, Assemblyman Jon Bramnick, R-Westfield, Assemblywoman Nancy Munoz, R-Summit, and Garwood Councilman Anthony Sytko, who is a Republican nominee for county freeholder. Bramnick had been considered by Christie as a potential running mate before the former U.S. attorney choose Guadagno. Christie and Guadagno are running against the Democratic ticket of Gov. Jon Corzine and State Sen. Loretta Weinberg, D-Bergen County.

At one point the large group, which included three Guadagno and Kean aides and one member of the media, almost scared away one resident, who retreated thinking the group was a band of evangelists. After recognizing Bramnick, the resident did agree to speak with Guadagno about housing policy.

During a stop at the home of former Schools Superintendent William Foley, Guadagno briefly discussed education issues with the former schools boss before talk turned to health care. Foley and several friends who were at his home mentioned concerns over rising health care costs and questioned Guadagno over President Barack Obama's health care proposal. While noting that she would not have any control over federal health policy as the state's second in command, she touted Christie's health care proposal, which she said centered on competition.

Kean was the most enthusiastic of the group, bounding up front steps two at a time and encouraging his running mates to quicken the pace. The group went to homes from a list prepared in advance by Guadagno's staff along with visiting with residents who were already outside. The prepared list of homes is traditional in campaigns, with the lists typically containing the homes of voters who have voted in past statewide races, and are considered likely to vote this year. Kean, who is not up for reelection until 2011, explained to Guadagno that he enjoys the door-to-door aspect of campaigning.

"I love door-to-door," he said. "I go to 5,000 doors a year, even if I am not running that year."

This is Guadagno's second visit to Westfield. Her first occurred late last month when she and Christie visited Westfield High School for a roundtable discussion on higher education policy. During the previous visit she generated headlines when she offered different explanations for her son's college choices during the roundtable and at a press conference. She said she was happy to return to the Westfield for today's event.

"I love being back in Westfield," Guadagno said. "It's great to be with all the local candidates. "We're all out here to learn what the concerns are of the residents and taxpayers."