News conference video

Contact:    Tom Dallessio (609) 802-0880 Tom@LeadershipNJ.org

--Media Advisory--

LEADERSHIP NEW JERSEY AND NEWS 12 NEW JERSEY
ANNOUNCE INVITE FOR FIRST EVER
DEBATE OF CANDIDATES FOR LT. GOVERNOR

LNJ and other supporting organizations invite candidates to televised debate
to be held at Fall 2009 Forum on the Future of New Jersey

Trenton, NJ (June 22, 2009) - Leadership New Jersey (LNJ) announce today that it has organized a prominent coalition of New Jersey civic and media partners to host the first ever, historic debate of candidates for the newly created post of Lieutenant Governor of New Jersey.

LNJ is a not-for-profit organization of leaders of New Jersey's business community, educational institutions, governmental entities, and non-profit institutions.

The debate will be held in conjunction with LNJ's annual Forum on the Future of New Jersey at a date to be determined in conjunction with the major Gubernatorial campaigns. News 12 New Jersey and New Jersey Business Magazine have already signed on as media partners.

"For the first time in its 214-year history, New Jersey will elect a Lieutenant Governor in November," said Tom Dallessio, executive director of Leadership New Jersey. "With the role that a Lieutenant Governor will play yet to be defined, Leadership New Jersey believes that the state's electorate should and will have a higher-than-expected level of interest in the candidates and their views. Through a Town Hall-style debate, leaders from throughout the state will have the chance to question the candidates about the challenges we face to improve our quality of life."

Steve Morgan, Former President, JCP&L and Honorary Co-Chair of 2009 LNJ Forum on the Future of New Jersey, added: "The annual LNJ Forum on the Future of New Jersey, which serves as a learning and exchange laboratory for state leaders from all sectors, is the perfect venue for this historic debate. We are thrilled that so many organizations have stepped forward to collaborate with us on staging the event and look forward to the Gubernatorial campaigns affirming their participation."

Other groups that have endorsed the debate include: the Center for State Constitutional Studies, the Chamber of Commerce of Southern New Jersey, the Council on State Public Affairs, the Eagleton Institute of Politics at Rutgers University, Einstein's Alley, the Hall Institute of New Jersey, New Jersey Business and Industry Association, and the Senator Walter Rand Institute for Public Affairs at Rutgers University.

The telecast by News 12 New Jersey will be made available to Comcast, so that virtually every cable household in the state can view the event. Other media organizations will be invited to participate.

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