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Former Gov. Tom Kean is shown in Madison last month.
Photo by Aristide Economopoulos | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com
TOM KEAN
New Jersey governor 1982-90GRADE: IncompleteKean, a Republican, gives Murphy "an A for aspirations.""I think he's got the right priorities and this has been a time to set priorities, and I wish him well. The tough period is coming and that's what he'll be judged on and whether or not he's got an agenda, which I like, but then he has some proposals to pay for it that most people don't like. So there has to be some compromise."Kean noted that Murphy's plan for
free community college can "help with income inequality.""A high school education is not enough, and some people just can’t afford county college. Enabling more people to have that chance is, of all the things you can do, that's probably one of the best things you can do to address income inequality across the country."Kean said preschool for all children —
another Murphy proposal — "is proven to be effective""But I don't think you can do it through all taxes. I think he's going to find some spending reductions." (Murphy proposes a new tax on millionaires, increasing the sales tax from 6.625 percent to 7 percent, taxing ride-sharing services like Uber and home-sharing services like Airbnb, and legalizing and taxing marijuana)."He has wonderful, wonderful priorities. But if he doesn’t come through with them or does them all by raising taxes, I’ll give him a failing grade."
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State Sen. Richard Codey, D-Essex, appears at a Murphy campaign event in North Brunswick in November.
Photo Aristide Economopoulos | NJ Advance Media
RICHARD CODEY
Former governor and current state senator, D-EssexGRADE: ACodey, a close Murphy ally and the longest-serving state lawmaker in New Jersey history, said he'd give the governor an even greater grade if it weren't for one of his fashion choices."I'd give him an A+, but he's had
his hat on backwards," Codey joked."He's shown he's a leader, and he's also shown he's a gentleman."