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Speaking with Governor Christie

By on Jan 4, 2011 in Support NJ Naval Militia JC

From: Suzanne Paquette
Date: December 8, 2010 3:06:04 PM EST
To: paul Kale
Cc: Christina Genovese
Subject: RE: sorry about the technical difficulties I had with the PDF this includes all of the info

Hello Mr. Kale,

I forwarded your email to the Office of Constituent Relations. They will respond to your email.

Thank you,
Suzanne Paquette

Office of the Governor

From: paul Kale
Sent: Tuesday, December 07, 2010 10:38 PM
To: Suzanne Paquette
Cc: Christina Genovese
Subject: sorry about the technical difficulties I had with the PDF this includes all of the info

Dear Ms. Paquette and Ms. Genovese,

I want to thank you both for your concern on the day the Town-hall meeting.

Upon reflection I realized Gov. Christie and I must have mutually misunderstood each other; in my attempted brevity I failed to give enough detail. I assume the governor must not have recalled our previous conversations.

On election day spoke with Gov. Christie twice in regard to the read–standing up of the state guard. On the first occasion when I originally met the governor I introduced myself and said,’ the first thing that I would like you to do when you get into office is read–stand up the state guard. Gov. Christie tapped me on the shoulder and said, “help is on the way”. He then moved on to speak with other people.

As I walked into the restaurant, I wondered if the governor even knew what the state guard was. I ordered a hamburger and considered writing a follow-up letter with an explanation. The Governor then gave a speech, which I could not hear, To my surprise the Governor approached me again and I started to explain that that the New Jersey Naval Militia-Joint Command was made up of mostly retired National Guardsmen and that my unit responded to 9-11-01 and that the unit was stood down during the Mcgreevey administration. I mentioned that I served with hero’s and they need your help. Governor Christie put his hand on my shoulder and said, “Paul, I am a former federal prosecutor; I know who you guys are, I’ll take care of you when I get in office.”

After Governor Christie took office I spoke with him again, at the Lawrenceville Armory, I reintroduced myself- reminded him that we had spoken on election day and I asked him if he could re stand up the state guard while he was there. he answered, “we’ll try.”

I am sure you can understand when I misunderstood the governor’s answer of ” I don’t know what the problem is…I am just a lawyer.(or something to that effect) To briefly refresh your memory: After I had stated that if he re-stood up the state guard I could make sure it was privately funded his initial response was that he would put me in touch with MG Rieth…and that I had replied that I had spoken to MG Rieth and he said that he supports us..at which point the Governor gave the response that I must have misunderstood. Originally I thought that his answer was disingenuous. I was very glad when i realized that it must have been a misunderstanding.

After 9-11-01 Homeland Security became the foremost political issue. There has been many changes since then. I had heard that Newark applied and got two garbage trucks with the justification that they would be used to hall away bodies during a mass casualty incident.As well as two north Jersey cities who got million dollar boats without plans on how to crew them. One of the best programs to come out of the catastrophe was the Community Emergency Response teams which citizenry to be self reliant for short periods of time during and after a disaster. Almost all of the NJ Naval Militia Joint Command personnel are CERT members. However it would be unfair to ask a CERT member to remain in that role for an extended period of time. CERT teams have introduced the average citizen to emergency services allowing some to become more involved.
One definition of a state guard unit is a CERT team on steroids. Having mostly retired military personnel train for domestic problems blends both the best of the military and first responder (as well as Emergency management) mindsets.

On several occasions I have spoken to MG Rieth in regards to the Naval Militia Joint Command/State Guard. On the last two occasions I asked him the status of my unit he responded positively. After one of his town hall meetings (following an Octoberfest celebration) I asked him the status of my unit and he replied,”The State Guard fulfills a niche and a need and I support it. He took 5 steps forward, turned back to me and said,” In am talking about the state guard. Knowing enough not to question good news I replied,” yes sir I will pass it along (meaning I would mention it at the next drill). Months later , at The Militia Museum Gala, I asked MG Rieth what was happening with my unit and he said that it was up to Dick Cannas (the then Director of the Attorney Generals office of Homeland Security. The Following March 25 BG Hines and I were at a meeting with Mr. Cannas at which he stated that he fully supported his homeland security partners.

I realize that the state is in fiscal exigent circumstances[I hope the governor forgives me for the intentional misuse of that legal terminology] just as A1943 Allows DMVA to fundraise for handicap accessible vehicle purchase. And Mrs. Rieth’s Family readiness council fills in the gaps that that the state can not afford the Foundation for the Naval Militia can financially support the operations of the unit. During 9-11-01 FEMA reimbursed NJ for most of its expenses.

Having a State Guard is not always easy, I am not just an avid supporter of State Guard Units; I wrote a book on the subject. Modern Military Minutemen can be gotten from http://www.lulu.com/product/file-download/todays-modern-military-minutemen/887724 the download is free.[it is a guaranteed cure for insomnia]. The State Guard was mentioned favorably in your transition teams report. Captain Girardet and others met with Mr. Sheridan (SP?) from your office recently. I assume that the results were positive.

I have had two goals since 2002: The first getting the State Guard re-stood up, and to get the DMAVA complex accessible to disabled veterans ‘for real’ not just ‘on paper’.

I would like the governor to re-stand up the state guard so that we can start recruiting more of NJ’s best and bravest.

paul Kale & Governor Chris Christie

third time we spoke of re standing up the state guardthe second time we spoke of re-standing up the state guard

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