By Heather Haddon
OLD BRIDGE, N.J.--Gov. Chris Christie contrasted his blunt talk
with that of other politicians who are "trying to pretend to be
something," and said that changing the political culture of
Washington would be one of his top goals if he runs for the White
House and wins.
Mr. Christie also defended his administration's recent $225
million settlement with Exxon Mobil Corp. over allegations of
environmental contamination in northern New Jersey, saying further
litigation to recoup more damages would be more expensive than it's
worth.
During a town-hall meeting here in Middlesex County Tuesday
afternoon, the potential Republican presidential contender spoke at
length about his tendency to speak his mind. That attribute has
helped shape Mr. Christie's national reputation in the Republican
Party, but it has also fueled criticism.
"I just don't like name-calling," said Cheryl Meyer, a
45-year-old kindergarten teacher in Woodbridge Township who asked
Mr. Christie about his attitude during the town hall meeting. "If
you are going to run for president, that's not going to fly with
the rest of the United States."
Mr. Christie drew national attention last year after he told a
heckler at a Jersey Shore news conference to "sit down and shut
up." That man, James Keady, is now running for state Assembly.
"If he had any political courage, he could say, 'I'm sorry,' "
said Mr. Keady, a Democratic former councilman in Asbury Park,
N.J., who attended Tuesday's meeting and attempted to ask Mr.
Christie a question.
Mr. Christie said that while he sometimes goes over the line,
often he just wants to be blunt. Other times he hasn't slept or
eaten all day, and that stokes his temper, he said.
But Mr. Christie also faulted politicians who say "the blandest,
most vanilla thing" to not offend voters, and defended his own
style of communication.
"I try to reach the balance," Mr. Christie said. "That's going
to lead to good moments, and some not-so-good moments."
During the event, Mr. Christie received questions from
public-school teachers who were angry at his administration's
standardized tests and other policies. About 80 protesters stood
outside the meeting.
Valerie Nugent, a 52-year-old teacher from Hopelawn, N.J.,
faulted Mr. Christie for his settlement with Exxon, saying it was
too low compared with the amount past governors had originally
sought.
The 2004 lawsuit asked for $8.9 billion in damages from the
Texas energy company for alleged contamination to 1,500 acres of
land and marshes surrounding its refineries in Bayonne and Linden,
N.J.
Mr. Christie said the settlement requires Exxon to completely
clean up the site, and that the $8.9 billion number was an
arbitrary one chosen by past administrations.
"There was no basis in fact for the $8.9 billion," he said.
Environmental groups disagree, saying the number was determined
by a consultant hired by the state Department of Environmental
Protection as part of the lawsuit.
"The $8.9 billion figure is based on extensive studies conducted
by DEP-retained experts to calculate the cost to restore these
sites," said Margaret Brown, an attorney for the Natural Resources
Defense Council, an environmental group that is considering
intervening in the case.
Write to Heather Haddon at heather.haddon@wsj.com
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