by Angela Wu '12

For New Jersey's independent candidate for governor Chris Daggett, the one policy issue looming above all others during a public talk Oct. 7 at Princeton's Woodrow Wilson School was the economy - and how to fix it.

Daggett, who spoke in the School’s Dodds Auditorium, focused on the need to “make difficult decisions as to how to make the state economically competitive and affordable” in the face of a growing $8 billion budget deficit.

Among his proposed solutions is what he called a tax-balancing program that would cut property taxes for all New Jersey homeowners by 25 percent up to $2500 while expanding the sales tax to include more services.

“Property taxes clearly are the big gorilla here,” said Daggett, who said that the revenue from an expanded sales tax combined with hard spending caps on municipal spending would be able to address the revenue lost from the property tax cut.

New Jersey’s property taxes are among the highest in the nation and are at the top of voters’ concerns this year. Daggett argued that his tax reforms would help make the state more competitive with neighboring states Pennsylvania and New York, which have presented an attractive alternative to tax-wary New Jersey residents.

“We’re going to make it fairer, we’re going to make it more competitive, and we’re going to make it more affordable,” Daggett said. “If you give [residents] a property tax reduction of 25 percent, it’ll go a long way in making [living in New Jersey] more affordable.”

The independent candidate, who has a background in education policy working as deputy chief of staff for former governor Tom Kean, also touched on the topic of higher education, citing a similarly competitive problem: students who “overwhelmingly…leave the state and don’t come back.”

Daggett said, “We’re the only state that has disinvested in higher education—the actual dollars we’re putting into higher ed this year are going to be fewer than in 2000,” adding that the state's "top talent leaves New Jersey because we’re not investing in higher education.”

Speaking in a straightforward tone, he acknowledged that New Jersey would ultimately still have to pay for its increasing budget deficit.

“Tooth fairy’s not coming. Not to New Jersey—not to drop that kind of money on us,” he said. “These are not pleasant answers, but honest answers, in my mind, because we don’t have alternatives. We’re going to have to face the music on this one.”

Daggett, a New Jersey native with extensive public service experience, is now drawing more attention as a contender in the race, following a successful debate with Democratic incumbent Governor Jon Corzine and Republican candidate Chris Christie on Oct. 1. He was the only independent candidate to raise the funds required to participate in the debate, which increased his name recognition across the state significantly, he said.

“A large number of people are fed up with both parties. They are desperate for an alternative,” Daggett said. “I believe the voters of New Jersey have gotten to the point where they’re looking for someone who is willing to tell them the truth about the facts.”

When asked whether he would endorse Corzine or Christie if his polling numbers faltered, Daggett shook his head, saying that he needed to “finish this fight to the end.”

“To be honest with you, I don’t think either one of them will be able to do what’s necessary to fix this state,” Daggett said. “The two parties have demonstrated an inability to work together…it’s very discouraging, and part of my reason for running is that I’m so disappointed and disillusioned by both parties. And I honestly believe, whichever party is in Trenton, it won’t make any difference.”

This event was co-sponsored by the Woodrow Wilson School and the Policy Research Institute for the Region. Governor Corzine and Chris Christie were also invited to speak on campus ahead of the Nov. 3 election.