Gov. Whitman: Mercer's location, talent bodes well for county

Mercer Business, Aug 01, 1998

Patrick G. McCormick, Chairman, Mercer Business Magazine Committee:

Q. Through coordinated efforts of the county, state and the Mercer Chamber, we were successful in attracting Bristol-Myers Squibb and Merrill Lynch to select sites for major expansion, adding many new jobs. Will you comment and do you have a strategy to assure that we can continue to work on projects such as these?

A. Certainly. We need a transportation system designed to encourage locationing here. And Mercer County is a great location. We are in the process of moving the Department of Commerce into the private sector, which will give that entity more opportunity to better serve the needs of the business community.

Gene Sayko, Editor, Mercer Business Magazine:

Q. You have been personally involved in the Waterfront Park. What are your views on the arena and hotel complex. How much money is the state willing to put up and would you like to see the proposed area become a cultural site as a tie-in to the War Memorial Building? Also, what do you think can be done to improve the image of Trenton as the state capital?

A. The state is putting up about $12 million for the arena and I believe it's very important to enhance the image of downtown Trenton. The scaffolding around the dome area of the State House shows the people that they can look forward with pride to the dome's renewal as a sparkling symbol of the state and city. We have put up about $2 million so far toward the construction of a new hotel, and, as you know, there is a new proposal being considered to raise the needed funds to complete the job. We want a hotel that works, not a failure that has happened so many times in Trenton. It takes all of us, working together, city , county and state to achieve the things we are talking about. And Trenton very much needs the support of the Chamber to continue to make progress in the city. We need to focus on housing and improving the schools, and we need to continue the "Brownfields" programs that are making a difference.

Ed Meara, Past Chamber President:

Q. The Transportation Trust Fund, the gas tax and open space are important for the future of New Jersey. How do they affect Mercer County?

A. The proposal includes an increase of $75 million a year for local projects; $5 million of that is targeted for local transportation projects. If the bus you take to work goes no further than a mile short of your workplace, you might as well be in Idaho for all the help that is. The proposed light rail line, as I mentioned, needs this funding, and improvements on Route 31 are very important to Mercer County.

Frank Tyger, Mercer Business Magazine Committee:

Q. Which accomplishments are you most proud of, and what would you do differently, if you could?

A. That's so hard to answer. It's always going to be tomorrow, as far as I'm concerned. I won't know what my best accomplishment will be until I leave office as governor. Crime is at a 23 year low, we've reduced taxes, preserved open space and succeeded in many of our goals. It hasn't always been easy.