Rep.-elect Josh Gottheimer has tried unsuccessfully to meet with the lawmaker he is succeeding in Congress.
WASHINGTON -- Rep.-elect Josh Gottheimer isn't waiting by the phone, but he'd still like to hear from the lawmaker he will succeed in January, Rep. Scott Garrett.
Following a nasty election with charges and countercharges over ethics violations, assault charges and embracing extremists, victorious candidate Gottheimer called and wrote to Garrett (R-5th Dist.), seeking a meeting to make sure that the transition goes smoothly, especially in regard to constituent requests for help.
"I"m eager just to make sure there's a smooth transition and for the people who we both represent, the constituents in the 5th District, nothing falls through the cracks," Gottheimer said. "If they have an issue, as far as you're concerned, there's no difference in the service that you get. Helping a veteran out is not a partisan issue."
Garrett's final legislative act
Garrett told The Record, which first reported the lack of contact between the two men, that there was no reason to meet yet.
"We'll contact him when there's something to tell him," Garrett told the newspaper.
While Garrett already has vacated his congressional office to make room for incoming members of the next Congress, spokesman Chris Carofine said the lawmaker's staff was making sure that the constituents' requests would not be lost in the transition.
"In accordance with House rules and procedures, the congressman's office is informing every constituent with an open case about their options going forward, and the process is moving along as scheduled," Carofine said. "Any information that needs to be forwarded to the incoming office will be sent in a timely manner depending on each constituent's preferences, as has been done in the past."
Jonathan D. Salant may be reached at jsalant@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @JDSalant. Find NJ.com Politics on Facebook