Atlantic Coast District, International Longshoremen's Association Endorses Jon Corzine For Re-election As Governor of New Jersey

NORTH BERGEN, NJ - The Atlantic Coast District of the International Longshoremen's Association, AFL-CIO today announced their endorsement of New Jersey Governor Jon Corzine for re-election, according to announcement by its president Stephen Knott. The ILA's largest locals and highest concentration of members are located in the Garden State and ACD President Knott said his ILA District and its thousands of members will do all it can to return Governor Corzine to the State House in Trenton.

Working families in New Jersey have a true and trusted friend in Governor Corzine, said President Knott. That trust also extends to Loretta Weinberg, whom the governor wisely chose as his running mate for New Jersey Lieutenant Governor.

The ILA's Atlantic Coast District comprises all port areas on the North Atlantic Coast, including New Jersey, in addition to U.S. and Canadian ports on the Great Lakes and Puerto Rico. Stephen Knott, the ACD president, and Dennis Daggett, the District Secretary-Treasurer are both residents of New Jersey and within the past year, the ACD moved its headquarters from Lower Manhattan to North Bergen, New Jersey.

The heartbeat of our ACD can be found in New Jersey, said President Knott. So we naturally have a vested interest in who leads our Garden States and will make decisions affecting the Ports of Newark, Elizabeth, Hoboken, Bayonne and Camden.

President Knott noted that Governor Corzine recognizes the powerful economic impact New Jersey working waterfront ports have for the state. He also recognized how much New Jersey benefits from Governor Corzine's close relationship with President Barack Obama.

At an organized labor rally in Holmdel in July, President Obama praised Gov. Corzine for his strong leadership during these incredibly difficult times and recognized him for his unwavering support of New Jersey's working families, said Mr. Knott. Over 17 thousand union members and their families turned out that day to show support for our President and Gov. Corzine.

ACD President Knott encourages all ILA members and their families in New Jersey to closely examine the records of the two candidates for New Jersey Governor. Our Governor's opponent, Chris Christie would have rejected federal stimulus money used to create and maintain jobs, invest in infrastructure projects and provide unemployment assistance.

I ask all ILA members and their families to visit a website created by the New Jersey State AFL-CIO, www.therealchrischristie.com, to better understand just how damaging Christie's election would be for the citizens of New Jersey, added Mr. Knott. For the Atlantic Coast District, and all working families in New Jersey, Governor Jon Corzine is the clear choice.