Christie's Presidential Announcement: What Got Overlooked

A lot gets lost in the mad shuffle of a press conference.

So when it came to one of the largest, most talked-up events of Governor Chris Christie’s career – his presidential campaign announcement at Livingston High School - there was bound to be information that got left out of the news reports for the sake of word counts.

Here are a few details from Tuesday’s press conference that got overlooked.

THE WORST-KEPT SECRET IN POLITICS

Even though Christie’s presidential aspirations had been labeled the “worst-kept secret in politics” as early as 2013, the governor’s campaign team kept mum about the nature of the press conference until curtain time.

The staff of Chris Christie for President didn’t send out an official media alert until Saturday, giving the press conference a teasingly nondescript moniker: “Governor Chris Christie’s Special Announcement Event.”

POLICE PRESENCE

Dozens of police officers from multiple agencies were stationed in a perimeter around the high school with their patrol cars, helping to direct traffic and provide building security.

While no reports have mentioned the exact number of staff committed to the event, officers from the Livingston Police Department, Essex County Sherriff’s Office and the NJ State Police were spotted on the scene.

In addition, emergency responders from several local ambulance units were on hand with vehicles at the ready and a transportable cot set up in the school hallway.

This reporter saw one woman reclining on a cot in a classroom near the gym around 10 a.m., which emergency responders were using as a temporary recovery room.

None of the authorities on the scene would comment on the woman’s condition.

DEMOCRAT IN THE LION’S DEN

The opening remarks were made by Former Livingston Board of Education President Sheila Antman Goldklang… a registered Democrat.

“I don’t always see eye to eye with the governor,” Goldklang said to a smattering of polite boos in the audience. “But I absolutely respect that he looks the people of New Jersey in the eye.”

CHRISTIE’S MOTHER

Goldklang spoke with fond kindness about the governor’s mother, Sondra “Sandy” Christie, a former Livingston resident and receptionist at the Board of Education offices.

Calling her a “true force to be reckoned with,” Goldklang said that Christie’s mother was “a tell-it-like-it-is type of person, trustworthy and someone that you can always rely on.”

Goldklang said that Christie’s mother gave her three pieces of indispensable advice: Stay true to her convictions, write everything down, and listen to what the people of the community have to say.

“Chris shares his mother’s special traits,” she added.

Christie’s friend, Lynn Grone, gave a similar account of the governor’s mother.

“She was a no-nonsense kind of gal,” Grone said. “Sandy was known to tell it like it is… And the apple has not fallen very far from the tree.”

• See related article: Christie Announces Run For President
• See related article: WATCH: Protesters Boo Christie On Arrival To Presidential Announcement

Photos and video by Eric Kiefer

Video: Christie supporters cheer during a press conference in Livingston High School on Tuesday.

Photo 1: Reporters on the registered media list received a press card like the one shown above.

Photo 2: The crowd begins to gather around 9 a.m. in the Livingston High School gymnasium.

Photo 3: Emergency responders wait outside the gymnasium entrance with a cot at the ready.

Photo 4: Ticket holders wait on line outside the main entrance to the school.

Photo 5: Journalists use cellphones and laptops to send social media posts and live updates as Christie prepares to take the stage.