As Christie campaigns, calls mount for him to step down

TRENTON, N.J. — The letters and phone calls Lt. Gov. Kim Guadagno gets from Gov. Chris Christie's chief counsel — which is how Guadagno is notified when she's temporarily in charge of New Jersey as Christie travels — aren't slowing down now that Christie has jumped into the race for president.

Christie's press office announced he was traveling Tuesday and Wednesday — final destination Idaho — to mingle with Tesla founder Elon Musk, Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg, media giant Rupert Murdoch and others at the annual Allen and Co. conference at Sun Valley Resort, an event known as "summer camp for billionaires."

That puts Guadagno in charge again. Christie has been absent from the state for all or part of 230 days since the beginning of 2014, when he began a one-year stint as chairman of the Republican Governors Association political group.

It's a pattern that has helped make Christie a known quantity across the country, but reduced his stature among New Jersey residents. It also has prompted Democratic state lawmakers to say Christie should make a choice: Does he want to run the state or run for president?

Last week, during a campaign trip to New Hampshire, site of the nation's first presidential primary, Christie declined to discuss how much impact Guadagno has had on policy with her frequent stints as acting governor.

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"The fact is, the lieutenant governor's been really involved in everything we do,'' he said, adding that he communicates with Guadagno "on a regular basis."

"The lieutenant governor has always filled in very ably for me,'' he said. "Her ability to be able to handle some of the things while I'm gone, I have complete confidence in."

Christie announced his bid for the 2016 Republican presidential nomination June 30 and immediately began a five-day campaign swing through New Hampshire and Maine.

Guadagno, at a recent groundbreaking ceremony for a planned technology center in Camden, said there is no reason for Christie to resign if he's out of state for extended periods.

"That's why we created the office of lieutenant governor," said Guadagno. "Our staffs all work together."

By nearly a 2-to-1 margin in a Quinnipiac Poll in December, New Jersey residents said they wanted Christie to step down if he became a candidate for president.

State Sen. Raymond Lesniak, a Democrat, said Tuesday he doesn't want it to be a choice.

Lesniak said he and Sen. Loretta Weinberg, another Democrat, are drafting a bill that would require Christie or any other New Jersey governor to resign once they run for president.

The resignation would be triggered when a governor began "raising money or spending money for a presidential primary,'' Lesniak said.

However, the state constitution, which sets out the terms of office for governor and the succession of governors, doesn't mention anything about campaigns for another office being a disqualifier. Even if the legislation passes constitutional muster, it would be up to Christie to sign it if it reaches his desk.

Christie spokesman Brian Murray said, "It's impossible to respond to every bit of silly nonsense that comes from this Legislature, and the governor has been clear that he is never disconnected from doing his job as governor.''

Senate President Stephen Sweeney, also a Democrat, has been cool to the idea of trying to force Christie out of office.

Sweeney controls which bills are considered in the Senate.

"He wasn't around a whole lot this year,'' Sweeney said of Christie on the day before Christie announced his run for president. "As long as we can get things done, that's all that matters to me. The governor's got every right to do whatever he wants to do ... but we here in New Jersey are left here to deal with a lot of the issues, like the TTF (Transportation Trust Fund) and higher education and pensions, and they don't go away because he's running for president."

Guadagno is notified by Chief Counsel Christopher Porrino when she's the acting governor in place of Christie. There is no oath of office required under the state constitution to promote Guadagno. When Porrino notifies Guadagno with a written letter, such as when Christie is on an overnight trip, legislative leaders of both parties are copied.

Sometimes, Sweeney is acting governor. That's when both Christie and Guadagno are both unavailable to perform the duties of the chief executive.

Contributing: Michael Symons and Jim Walsh, Asbury Park (N.J.) Press.