Marc Kovar
Executive Vice-President
If you’re not at the table,
you’re probably on the menu
During the past few weeks, we have seen and heard mem-
bers’ concerns about Gubernatorial Candidate Phil Murphy’s
decision to select Sheila Oliver as his running mate for lieu-
tenant governor.
As always, I would like to encourage you to reach out to NJ
State PBA President Pat Colligan or me directly with your ques-
tions or comments. But I would also like to take a moment to
walk you through the thought process that has led us to believe
that Phil Murphy continues to be the best choice for PBA mem-
bers.
The past eight years have done significant damage to mem-
bers and their families. We cannot afford to go another four
years without a relationship with the governor.
After fighting with Governor Christie and Lieutenant Gover-
nor Kim Guadagno the past seven years about our pensions,
our health care and their administration’s many attacks against
our members, we have taken care to determine the best guber-
natorial candidate. This process has taken many months be-
cause the next four years are critical for our members.
When we first met with Phil Murphy in October 2014, hard-
ly anyone knew who he was, and there were still a number of
candidates from both parties circling this race. Murphy was
not only quick to express the level of respect he has for law en-
forcement, he was just as quick to express his anger at how our
members had been continuously disrespected by the Chris-
tie-Guadagno Administration.
During the past years, we have seen our pensions and health
care come under constant attack, our credibility questioned in
the media and the negative impact that accompanies these ac-
tions when we are simply trying to do our jobs. As governor,
Phil Murphy has assured us he will be committed to work with,
and not against us, and we will have a positive relationship with
the governor’s office for the first time in almost eight years.
Just like in our day-to-day work and personal interactions,
in the political world you must work to cultivate and maintain
these positive relationships. Loyalty is a two-way street, and the
activity around Murphy’s announcement of Sheila Oliver as his
running mate represented the first real test.
The day before Murphy was going to announce Oliver was
joining his ticket, we expressed serious reservations to him on
a phone call. He immediately drove more than an hour to meet
us that night to listen to, and try to alleviate, our concerns.
Here’s the thing: Sheila Oliver was Phil Murphy’s selection.
He never promised us who he would select, and we never
asked. But he still came to meet us at 10 p.m. that night to try
and make us more comfortable with his selection. He said he
understood why our members might have reservations about
Sheila Oliver, but he asked that we trust him. He asked that we
continue to support him, and he also asked us to join him at the
announcement the next day.
When we endorsed Murphy for governor, we were the first to
the table and when we left the meeting that night, we knew that
we will have a seat at the table when he gets elected.
In the relationship-centric world of New Jersey politics, Mur-
phy’s response to drive through the night and meet with us was
an important statement. The bigger statement occurred the
next day when Sheila Oliver announced publicly that Chapter
78 was wrong, that it was a bad piece of legislation.
When she was finished at the podium, she personally
thanked us for coming to the press conference and expressed
that she knew that her being named the candidate was a tough
pill to swallow.
She was right. When we originally heard about her selection,
it was a hard pill to swallow. But that has passed for us, and we
are hopeful it will pass for all of you.
We have a big head start on this relationship, and that in-
cludes our new relationship with Sheila Oliver. She stood in a
room full of her own admirers and took responsibility for bad
legislation, and she made it clear she wants to work with the
NJSPBA as a member of the Murphy administration.
We have much larger concerns and much more to get accom-
plished than to risk jeopardizing a relationship and a trust built
over years the first time we don’t like a decision. Phil Murphy
wants to work with us on behalf of our membership and not
use us as a negative public relations tool to further his political
career.
We have developed a trust with Phil Murphy that compelled
him to come to the meeting and confide in us, which is why we
were at the press conference.
If we didn’t trust him, believe me, we would not have been
there.
President Colligan and I take pride in knowing that we have
always stood up for each and every one of you, and all of your
families, in all that we do on behalf of the PBA. We’ve taken our
knocks from Governor Christie and others in Trenton, and we
have never given an inch. That is our responsibility, and that is
why you have put your trust in us.
In November, we will have a choice for governor between
Phil Murphy and Kim Guadagno. This is not a difficult decision.
We are asking you to join us in showing support for the Murphy
ticket. After eight years, it’s time to get a person in the gover-
nor’s office who will treat us as partners, not as punching bags.
Remember the old saying: If you’re not at the table, you’re on
the menu.
On a personal note, I would like to remember Union City Of-
ficer John Kamel and Pompton Lakes Officer Peter J. Kamper,
who were each lost in separate motorcycle accidents on July 27
and Aug. 9, respectively. Our prayers and best wishes go out to
their families and members of their departments. d
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