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Charles Cain is ready for next week.

Cain, a Republican, won election to Hamilton Township’s committee on the coattails of Republican Gov.-elect Chris Christie this month. And now, he will get a chance to meet him.

“I look forward to the opportunity at the League of Municipalities next week,” Cain said. “He’s going to be great for South Jersey.”

Cain will be one of about 16,500 people expected to be in Atlantic City next week for the 94th annual League of Municipalities annual conference.

Part municipal-law seminar, part out-of-town party, the annual weeklong event in one of the first cities built for pleasure is a hoary tradition among the state’s political class. This year, with Christie decisively winning the governor’s seat less than a fortnight earlier, the trip promises to be more buoyant for Republicans who see a way back to power for the first time in years.

At the same time, overall festivities promise to be more subdued, with recession worries crimping many budgets.

William Dressel, league executive director, said early registration figures are down about 2 percent from last year. At the same time, there will be about 800 exhibitors offering their wares to state, county and municipal officials in 1,100 booths.

He said the number of exhibitors is down about 4 percent from last year.

Jeff Tittel, executive director of the state’s Sierra Club and veteran of more than two-dozen league conferences, recounted stories of officials gone wild in the City That’s Always Turned On.

This year, he said he expected larger towns would send fewer people, while pay-to-play and recession concerns meant once-lavish parties thrown by firms with public contracts would be scaled back.

The highlight will likely come Thursday, when Gov. Jon S. Corzine and Christie speak at the annual noon league luncheon, scheduled for the Crown Ballroom at the Sheraton Convention Center Hotel.

Dressel said governors-elect typically use this speech to give their vision of where they want to move the state, while outgoing governors have talked about issues they have worked on.

He said that the audience would be keen to hear Christie’s thoughts on state property taxes, mandates and affordable housing issues that rank high in local officials minds.

Cain attended last year as a member of the township’s zoning board. He found the classes very helpful.

“Last year it was all business, trying to brush up and gain some experience,” while keeping his business running.

This year he planned to mix daytime classes with nighttime receptions. “Things are a lot better now,” he said. “I’ve been invited to a few key events — and I plan on attending.”

Contact Derek Harper:

609-292-4935

DHarper@pressofac.com

1 comment:

• Thrush (334) posts 2:41 pm

  alt-hedline: "Muni Porkers Share Two Marvelous Days at Same Trough"

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