Politics & Government

Fort Lee Republicans Share Experiences From RNC

Keith Jensen and Judith Fisher are in Tampa this week for the Republican National Convention.

Two Fort Lee residents are in Tampa this week for the Republican National Convention (RNC), Keith Jensen and Judith Fisher.

“It is such an honor to be at the convention as the alternate delegate representing the voters of our 9th district,” Fisher said in an email to Patch Wednesday. “To be amongst our hardworking leaders is an inspiration. Governor Christie did a great job for our state last night, and I am very proud of him.”

Jensen, who ran for state Assembly in 2011, is a non-voting, honorary delegate and said the two will be in Florida until Friday.

Find out what's happening in Fort Leewith free, real-time updates from Patch.

“Not every town sends people,” Jensen said. “There are 50 delegates. Judith is an alternate delegate. I’m an honorary delegate, which is no-voting. I’m just down here to support.”

Jensen said that after Christie’s keynote speech on Tuesday, everybody at the RNC who’s from New Jersey is in demand, and that it’s the main topic people want to talk to him about.

Find out what's happening in Fort Leewith free, real-time updates from Patch.

“It’s funny; you need a credential to get into all these different events, and if you say you’re from Jersey, it’s almost like carte blanche; they just welcome you in because they want to talk to someone from New Jersey,” Jensen said. “Everyone’s so fired up.”

But Jensen, speaking in a phone interview with Patch, said he thought the governor was “guarded” Tuesday night.

“More so than I’ve seen him in the past,” Jensen said. “But at the same time, he’s a statesman. He was very professional. A lot of people thought he would become a little more of the Jersey style that’s showcased in the media so often.”

Jensen said that being a Republican in Tampa this week is pretty easy because
everyone’s excited, from taxi drivers to those working in restaurants.

But still, he sees a lot of support for what the Republican Party is selling this week, and not just to its diehard constituents, but also to people who aren’t necessarily “drinking the juice,” as Jensen says, “that are on the outside.”

“Everyone feels just comfortable with Republicans in office, trying to do the right thing for people and the economy,” he said.

For more from the RNC, click here, to see what Fair Lawn Republican Club President Daniel Dunay, who’s also in Tampa this week, has to say about the convention.

Visit the United Republican Club of Fort Lee online or on their Facebook page.


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