Democratic Assembly Nominee Carmelo Garcia Endorses Christie for Governor

Carmelo Garcia, a 33rd District Democratic nominee for Assembly and executive director of the Hoboken Housing Authority, is crossing party lines to support Republican Gov. Chris Christie in his re-election bid.

Garcia and his Hudson County Democratic Organization-backed running mates Raj Mukherji and Brian Stack, who handily won last Tuesday's 33rd District Democratic Senate and Assembly primaries, came out in support of the Republican governor at a press conference Monday in Union City.

Garcia affirmed that he is still a proud Democrat, but praised the governor for leading by example and doing what was best for all of his constituents, regardless of party lines or affiliations, in the aftermath of Superstorm Sandy.

"Leadership requires risk," Garcia said. "It's the ability to disappoint your own people at a rate they can absorb and Gov. Christie risked political backdraft and made a decision to do what was right, to secure the necessary federal funding for which New Jersey was in desperate need, for a path to recovery and begin the noble and necessary work to rebuild lives and businesses that were devastated during the storm. The governor's leadership united all the people of New Jersey for the greater purpose."

Stack, a state senator who also serves as Union City’s mayor, lauded Christie for his general frankness and responsiveness.

“I’ve had a great relationship with him for four years," said Stack, who acknowledged it was tough to cross party lines in a Democratic stronghold like Hudson County, according to an NJ.com report. “He’s been a governor that’s been truly responsive. I mean, you call him, he calls you back the same day. And he’ll tell you if he can do something or he can’t do it.”

Stack said Christie's Democratic opponent, State Sen. Barbara Buono, is a "nice person," but not in the same league as Christie.

“I don’t think there’s even a comparison there," Stack told NJ.com. "I really don’t."