`New Jersey: Come See for Yourself' Is Its New Slogan (Update2)
2006-01-12 15:55 (New York)
(Adds vote breakdown for finalists in third paragraph.)
By Stacie Babula
Jan. 12 (Bloomberg) -- ``New Jersey: Come See for
Yourself'' is the new state slogan.
Governor Richard Codey today announced the winning motto,
which logged the most votes, 3,373, among the top five finalists
in a contest for state residents. There were 11,227 total votes
cast between Dec. 21 and Jan. 8 in phone and Internet balloting.
The winning slogan beat the other four finalists: ``New
Jersey: The Best Kept Secret,'' 3,258 votes; ``New Jersey:
Expect the Unexpected,'' 2,273 votes; ``New Jersey: The Real
Deal,'' 1,181 votes; and ``New Jersey: Love at First Sight,'
1.142 votes. Several people submitted the same entry for each of
the five finalists chosen, the state said.
Codey, who is governor until Jan. 17, publicly appealed for
slogans in October after he rejected an advertising firm's ``New
Jersey: We'll Win You Over'' as being too defensive. That
slogan, along with market research and surveys, cost the state
$260,000. Codey's staff helped him pick five finalists.
Jeffrey Antman of Passaic, New Jersey, was credited with
submitting the winning slogan first. He and a guest won a two-
night stay at Crystal Springs Golf and Spa Resort in Vernon, New
Jersey, and two tickets to a Nets or Devils game.
Codey, at a press conference today, said he hadn't asked
Governor-elect Jon Corzine, a fellow Democrat, his opinion on
the new slogan. Corzine takes office Jan. 17.
The slogan will be directed at potential visitors from out
of state, not residents, Codey said. He said he doesn't plan to
tape any commercials using the slogan.
`Times Change'
An earlier state slogan, ``New Jersey and You: Perfect
Together,'' became popular after former Governor Tom Kean began
using it in his television commercials. Former Governor
Christine Whitman revived the slogan in 1998, and the slogan is
still used for marketing purposes by the state's tourism
department.
```Perfect together' was fine in its day, but times
change,'' Codey was quoted as saying on the state Web site
asking for new suggestions.
The invitation generated a wave of jokes and spoofs that
play on New Jersey's stereotypical association with highways,
oil refineries and mobsters.
Among the submissions posted on Web sites or in newspapers:
``New Jersey: Got a Problem With That?''; ``Come to New Jersey -
- It's Not as Bad as It Smells''; ``New Jersey: We'll Tax the
#&!@ Out of You''; ``You Pay, We Play: Compliments of NJ
Politicians''; ``Welcome to New Jersey; Expect Delays'' and
``New Jersey -- a State of Confusion.''
Tourism, the second-largest industry in New Jersey,
supports more than 430,000 jobs statewide and produced $3.7
billion in total tax revenue and $32 billion for New Jersey's
economy last year. The biggest attractions are the Atlantic City
casinos, Six Flags Great Adventure and the beaches.
--Editor: Goldschlag
Story illustration: For government finance news see:
{MUNT <GO>}. For top transportation news see {TRNT <GO>}.
To contact the reporter on this story:
Stacie Babula in Trenton at (1) (609) 394-0736 or
sbabula@bloomberg.net.
To contact the editor responsible for this story:
Beth Williams at (1) (212) 318-2307 or
bewilliams@bloomberg.net.
2006-01-12 15:55 (New York)
(Adds vote breakdown for finalists in third paragraph.)
By Stacie Babula
Jan. 12 (Bloomberg) -- ``New Jersey: Come See for
Yourself'' is the new state slogan.
Governor Richard Codey today announced the winning motto,
which logged the most votes, 3,373, among the top five finalists
in a contest for state residents. There were 11,227 total votes
cast between Dec. 21 and Jan. 8 in phone and Internet balloting.
The winning slogan beat the other four finalists: ``New
Jersey: The Best Kept Secret,'' 3,258 votes; ``New Jersey:
Expect the Unexpected,'' 2,273 votes; ``New Jersey: The Real
Deal,'' 1,181 votes; and ``New Jersey: Love at First Sight,'
1.142 votes. Several people submitted the same entry for each of
the five finalists chosen, the state said.
Codey, who is governor until Jan. 17, publicly appealed for
slogans in October after he rejected an advertising firm's ``New
Jersey: We'll Win You Over'' as being too defensive. That
slogan, along with market research and surveys, cost the state
$260,000. Codey's staff helped him pick five finalists.
Jeffrey Antman of Passaic, New Jersey, was credited with
submitting the winning slogan first. He and a guest won a two-
night stay at Crystal Springs Golf and Spa Resort in Vernon, New
Jersey, and two tickets to a Nets or Devils game.
Codey, at a press conference today, said he hadn't asked
Governor-elect Jon Corzine, a fellow Democrat, his opinion on
the new slogan. Corzine takes office Jan. 17.
The slogan will be directed at potential visitors from out
of state, not residents, Codey said. He said he doesn't plan to
tape any commercials using the slogan.
`Times Change'
An earlier state slogan, ``New Jersey and You: Perfect
Together,'' became popular after former Governor Tom Kean began
using it in his television commercials. Former Governor
Christine Whitman revived the slogan in 1998, and the slogan is
still used for marketing purposes by the state's tourism
department.
```Perfect together' was fine in its day, but times
change,'' Codey was quoted as saying on the state Web site
asking for new suggestions.
The invitation generated a wave of jokes and spoofs that
play on New Jersey's stereotypical association with highways,
oil refineries and mobsters.
Among the submissions posted on Web sites or in newspapers:
``New Jersey: Got a Problem With That?''; ``Come to New Jersey -
- It's Not as Bad as It Smells''; ``New Jersey: We'll Tax the
#&!@ Out of You''; ``You Pay, We Play: Compliments of NJ
Politicians''; ``Welcome to New Jersey; Expect Delays'' and
``New Jersey -- a State of Confusion.''
Tourism, the second-largest industry in New Jersey,
supports more than 430,000 jobs statewide and produced $3.7
billion in total tax revenue and $32 billion for New Jersey's
economy last year. The biggest attractions are the Atlantic City
casinos, Six Flags Great Adventure and the beaches.
--Editor: Goldschlag
Story illustration: For government finance news see:
{MUNT <GO>}. For top transportation news see {TRNT <GO>}.
To contact the reporter on this story:
Stacie Babula in Trenton at (1) (609) 394-0736 or
sbabula@bloomberg.net.
To contact the editor responsible for this story:
Beth Williams at (1) (212) 318-2307 or
bewilliams@bloomberg.net.
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