ICYMI: MIKIE TALKS NEW JERSEY; CAMPAIGN FOR GOVERNOR WITH CHRIS GETHARD

BLOOMFIELD — In case you missed it, Mikie sat down with Chris Gethard — a comedian and former host of the “New Jersey Is The World” podcast — for a conversation on Instagram about public service, their favorite things about New Jersey (including pizza), and the race for governor.

Key excerpts lightly edited for length and clarity are included below:

Chris: I live out in Morris County, there’s a lot of Reagan Republicans. They are fans of yours. You hear even a lot of the Republicans who are like, “Mikie’s cool.” I feel the love in the district. And I also know, just on a basic level, there’s times where my family has needed help, where I needed advice on stuff, senior care for a relative of mine. We call your office, we get a call back. So it’s just one of those things where I’m like, “Oh, this is what it’s supposed to be. You’re supposed to have a competent person looking out for you.” So thank you for everything you do, and I’m really rooting so hard for you in the governor’s race.

Mikie: Wow. Thank you so much. I really appreciate it. Somebody once said to me, what do you think your ethos is? How does the office act? And I said, “you know, the secret to our success?” And, and they said, “What?” And I said, “ruthless competence.”

[…]

Mikie: I think that that pro-union piece is so critically important. I often tell people my grandfather, his family lost everything during the Great Depression. He went, fought in World War II, came home and got a great union job with UAW. And I really think it was that job and the security it provided to my mom’s family that actually kind of secured my family’s place in the middle class. And I directly trace my service in Congress and my ability to serve in Congress, to that union job that my grandpa had. So critically important, and that is the kind of opportunity that a great union job can provide.

[…]

Chris: What’s your favorite pizza in North Jersey? And why is it the Star Tavern in Orange?

Mikie: Now you took my answer! […] Of course it is. I like the crust. You know how it’s sort of real thin and crispy. I love their crust. It’s just perfect. And then I like a pepperoni pie. So I like when the pepperoni is, like a little bowl with the grease in it. I don’t know. I love it!
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