Gov. Mikie Sherrill, six months into her term as governor, praised her team in a letter sent to state employees on Thursday.
The letter, which appeared to go to all state workers, offered a broad thank-you and a pointed reminder that her early wins have depended on the people inside government delivering them.
Sherrill’s note, dated July 30, struck a tone that was both appreciative and urgent. She told employees she has been “amazed and impressed with the dedication and innovation” across state government, especially at a moment when families are facing higher prices, uncertainty and systems that “are too costly and haven’t been delivering effectively.”
The letter included several specific examples of what she sees as early progress:
- REAL ID: Wait times have improved, which she described as bordering on “miracles”;
- Budget Report Card: It was developed at a pace she said surprised even her;
- Eight World Cup matches: They wre hosted “safely and efficiently,” a logistical lift she credited to frontline workers;
- Backlogs at agencies: Such as the ones at DOBI, are being worked through even before new staff arrive;
- State prisons: Care inside them has improved enough that a longstanding consent decree was lifted early.
Sherrill framed each of those wins as directly tied to residents’ lives — people staying in their homes, opening businesses, getting help for a struggling child or parent, or simply sleeping better at night “because they know they can count on us.”
She closed by calling public service “a privilege,” adding: “I can’t imagine there is a more talented state work force out there, and I can’t thank you enough.”
The complete letter is as follows:
Team:
“It has been just over six months since I took office, and I continue to be amazed and impressed with the dedication and innovation that all of you have demonstrated in such a short time. New Jerseyans are lucky that you have their back. These can be tough times for the people we serve. Families are not only facing higher prices, but they are also facing uncertainty. Too many of our systems in place are too costly and haven’t been delivering effectively, and there are new challenges on the horizon.
“That’s where all of you come in. Whether it’s figuring out how to deliver better and less expensive healthcare, charting out the strategy for replacing our infrastructure, or cutting through red tape, all of you are at the frontlines every day working to make people’s lives better.
“And it shows. No one expects miracles (although the improvements to REAL ID wait times or the speed with which the Budget Report Card were developed seem like ones). But what they should expect are dedicated people working to improve their lives so things here run more smoothly, services are made reliable, and opportunities for people here are improving.
“You all have done just that. Plowing streets in whiteout conditions, hosting eight World Cup games safely and efficiently, diligently working through backlogs even before we get more staff in place at agencies like the Department of Banking and Insurance, taking care of people in our prisons so well that the consent decree was removed early, the list goes on. And for each success all of you have, there are real people in our community who benefit. Who can stay in their home, open their business, make sure they have the resources they need to help their struggling child or parent, or just sleep at night because they know they can count on us.
“I often say public service is a privilege. I always think that is true, but working with all of you reminds me of it every single day. I can’t imagine there is a more talented state work force out there, and I can’t thank you enough.”
Sincerely,
Mikie Sherrill
57th Governor of New Jersey
