Governor's Mobile Offices Aim to Help Voters

In a nod to the “if you build it, they will come” theory, the office of constituent relations for Gov. Chris Christie sponsored the first of what it hopes will be many mobile offices at the Jefferson Township Senior Center on Thursday.

The mobile offices are not meant to be town hall meetings, according to Jeanne Dovgala Ashmore, director of the office of constituent relations, even though she gave a small talk to a group gathered at the start of the session. Rather, she said, they act as a way to “get into communities and help with constituent issues.

“We can help with any sort of problem a resident may be having, no matter how big or small it may seem, because to that person, it’s very important,” Ashmore said. Some examples that Ashmore mentioned included issues with unemployment checks, social security or veteran issues.

“We helped one service person who was being deployed get his driver’s license renewed before he left,” Ashmore said. “To him, that was a huge deal.”

Thursday’s event was the first such mobile office, but Ashmore said that while no specific dates are in place yet, more are being planned throughout the state.

“We want to have them at recognizable places in towns throughout the state, like senior centers, libraries or town halls, places that are convenient for people to get to,” she said, adding that they are not limited to only residents of the town where the even is held. “As more people learn about what we are doing, more people will come,” she added.

“The governor wants people to know that we care, and we are here to help people,” Ashmore said.

In attendance at the event with Ashmore were aides Kelly Ardente, Jared Pilosio and Jesse Landon.

For information on future mobile office dates and places, visit the state's website at http://www.state.nj.us/.