HAMILTON – Shortly after the GOP State Committee dumped Doug Steinhardt and plugged the hole with attorney Mike Lavery, InsiderNJ asked the Republican nominee for Governor for her reaction.

“I love Mike Lavery,” said Guadagno, on her way in to the 2017 State ELC Gubernatorial Reception here at the Hamilton Manor.

Guadagno later took questions from the press.

She noted that when she heard in late afternoon that Governor Chris Christie nominated Steinhardt’s wife to the parole board, she didn’t like the “optics” of Steinhardt simultaneously serving as state chairman.

“It was absolutely my decision,” the LG said, who referenced a conversation she had with Steinhardt to fill him in on the bad news.

She said, “I love Doug Steinhardt,” and suspected he “would be a great state party chair,” but his wife getting her dream job meant he couldn’t get his dream job.