What We Have Here Is a Failure To Administer

by: Bill Orr

Tue Mar 29, 2011 at 10:41:43 AM EDT

Governor Christie, who displays a number of skills including his ability to communicate, is an abject failure as an administrator. It is helpful to be able to talk a good game that impresses certain voters and others living outside our state, but ultimately he sits atop an administration of departments and agencies which provide or fail to provide the services that New Jerseyans seek.

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Bill Orr :: What We Have Here Is a Failure To Administer

His hasty departure to Florida this winter when he already realized a severe snow storm was imminent was symptomatic of his lack of leadership and disdain for management. His failure to engage with unions in negotiations on health benefits and his hope to gain a more favorable solution from friendly legislators again shows his dislike for the actual effort required in administration. A person in high office has to have confidence in and rely on his colleagues, so when he directly intervenes in the apportionment process as he did this weekend he disparages the Republican commissioners as well as the process itself.

He micromanaged the Education Department during the RTTT episode, slurred the NJEA, singe-mindedly pursued an ideological policy of his own, and after firing one conservative commissioner who had sought accommodation with the union, proceeded to nominate another individual whose forthrightness and ethics have been challenged. Likewise, in the Health Department he needlessly meddled with medical marijuana, obstinately refused to provide a reasonable sum of money for basic women's health care, and now faces the resignation of commissioner Alaign and Deputy Commissioner Walsh. Christie's appointment of Bob Martin, an industry insider, as Commissioner of Environmental Protection came as a surprise to even the appointee himself who felt he was less qualified for the position, and the damage to our environment is only becoming more apparent.

Christie's poor administration skills, including a heavy hand, mismanaging his leadership team, placing ideology over reason, and disinterest in many aspects of running his organization have left him with confused, dysfunctional, and demoralized employees. A governor is only as good as his ability to work with his staff, build consensus, and achieve results which the electorate can applaud. As an administrator it is becoming increasingly apparent that Governor Christie is an abject failure. And the electorate will not remain blind to his shortcomings.