By Dana Davidsen
(CNN) — A New Jersey mayor whose community was the scene of a now-famous traffic jam that is shaking up state politics and some say could impact the next presidential race is getting out of town for a night.
Mark Sokolich of Fort Lee is headed down to Washington where he plans to attend President Barack Obama’s State of the Union address on Tuesday.
Sokolich will be the guest of Rep. Bill Pascrell, a fellow Democrat whose North Jersey district includes Fort Lee, the lawmaker’s office confirmed to CNN.
Last year’s controversy at the foot of the George Washington Bridge is centered around suggestions top appointees of Gov. Chris Christie orchestrated the traffic gridlock as payback for Sokolich not endorsing their boss for reelection.
A state legislative investigative committee and the U.S. Attorney’s Office in New Jersey are looking into whether the traffic mess was politically motivated.
Christie was returned to office overwhelmingly last November and tops early polls for the 2016 Republican presidential nomination.
He has not said whether he’ll run for the White House, but the bridge mess and controversies since it all came to light has some questioning his political swagger and his governing style, which so far has been a plus with voters.
Christie says he knew nothing of any traffic scheme.
This story was first reported by the Bergen Record.
The-CNN-Wire
™ & © 2014 Cable News Network, Inc., a Time Warner Company. All rights reserved.
