New Jersey

Chris Christie
Governor

Chris Christie has served as the 55th Governor of New Jersey since January 2010.  

In his inaugural address, Governor Christie pledged to bring change and reform to government in New Jersey with a new era of accountability and transparency, lower taxes and higher growth, and choices in public schooling and workplace opportunity.  Since then, he has pursued reform, restructuring and fiscal responsibility in state and local governments. 

The Christie Reform Agenda encompasses myriad reforms that affect how public services are funded and public employees are compensated.  Among the initiatives proposed and/or undertaken in 2010 are property tax relief, including Cap2.5, a constitutional amendment to cap the increases in local property tax levies and state government operations spending to 2.5 percent annually; returning to municipal governments and public institutions of higher education greater responsibility for employee relations and compensation ; greater sharing of local services; civil service and pension reforms; as well as initiatives to help reduce unfunded state mandates.

Prior to his election, Governor Christie was named U.S. Attorney for the District of New Jersey in 2002.  He earned national recognition for his efforts in battling political corruption, corporate crime, human trafficking, gangs, terrorism and polluters.

Born in September 1962 in Newark, Governor Christie is a graduate of the University of Delaware and the Seton Hall University School of Law.  After receiving his law degree, he joined a Cranford, New Jersey law firm and was soon named a partner.  He was elected a Freeholder in Morris County in 1994, and in 1997 served as Director of the Board. 

Governor Christie and his wife, Mary Pat, reside in Mendham where they are raising their four children.