The New Jersey Slogan Vote

By yesterday's deadline, Acting Governor Dick Codey's office received 6,187 ideas for a new slogan for New Jersey. As everyone has read by now Codey decided to ask the public for suggestions after the New York branding and image consulting firm, Lippincott Mercer came up with the slogan "New Jersey: We'll win you over."

The first mistake was giving the job to a New York firm staffed with people that have probably never had a positive thought about the state in their life. The second, if the state felt the need to waste $260,000 to replace “New Jersey and You, Perfect Together” why not award the job to a New Jersey firm? Clearly the state suffers from an inferiority complex.

So now it’s up to Codey and his staff to narrow down the public suggestions to10 and let the people of New Jersey choose the new state slogan. New Jersey residents will be able to cast their vote for a new slogan by mail, phone or on the state’s website http://www.state.nj.us/

The Star-Ledger has published two articles recently containing slogans Acting Governor Codey has already removed from consideration. Here are two of our favorites that meet truth in advertising standards:

"NJ and you, going broke together."

"New Jersey: Hey, at least it's not West Virginia!"

Wonder if Don Surber submitted that second one?

Here’s a list of state slogans currently in use, you’ll notice some states don’t have one.

While not a state, Washington D.C., the largest recipient of federal aid per capita and a city fortunate to receive $ 6.59 for every dollar residents pay in taxes, uses this slogan – “Taxation without Representation”.

Update: New Jersey’s Governor Dick Codey unveiled the five finalists for New Jersey's slogan and may be read here.