Local Reactions to Christie's Decision

A long lunch line snaked out from the counter at Zappias deli on Union Place on Tuesday afternoon. Attached to the ceiling, a television showed Gov. Chris Christie walk in front of TV cameras to lay to rest any speculation he would run for president in 2012. Some residents in Summit had mixed views when it came to a Christie run, but one thing many agreed on was that the governor made the right decision.

Stopping with her lunch in hand to briefly listen to Christie’s comments, local resident Tina Wyatt, a registered Democrat, said she admired the Republican governor. “I’ve gained a tremendous amount of respect for him,” said Wyatt, a financial analyst at nearby Evermore Global Advisors. “I think it’s great that he’s maintained that it’s not his time,” she said. At some point, she said, Christie could make a good presidential candidate.

Assemblywoman Nancy F. Muñoz, a Republican, was in a meeting during Gov. Christie’s 1p.m. press conference. She said she was slightly disappointed by the topic of his speech, but glad on a “selfish” level. Although she would have been more than happy with a Christie presidential run, she was looking forward to his continued leadership in the Garden State. “He'd make a fantastic president,” said Muñoz. “I think that we would have benefited tremendously from his candidacy."
Summit resident Phyllis Sank, a Democrat, commended Christie as well. “I think he really made a smart decision. He’s not ready,” she said.