Local N.J. legislators won't help override Chris Christie's gay marriage veto

'(Reed Gusciora) won't be getting it from my vote, that's for sure,' Assemblyman John Dimaio said.

New Jersey Assemblyman Reed Gusciora, whose 15th District covers parts of Hunterdon County, said last week that state Democrats are committed to overriding a veto by Gov. Chris Christie on same-sex marriage legislation.

But the Democrat shouldn't expect support from fellow legislators from the neighboring 23rd District.

"He won't be getting it from my vote, that's for sure," Assemblyman John Dimaio said.

In February 2012, Christie shot down the bill sponsored by Gusciora and passed successfully through the state Assembly and Senate, in favor of putting it on a ballot for voters to decide.

Lawmakers have until Jan. 14, 2014, the end of the current legislative session, to attempt an override but may yield their efforts sooner if the proposal lands on the November ballot.

If the override is to be successful it will need a two-thirds majority of votes in both houses, totaling 27 votes in the Senate, three more than it received when passed and 54 votes in the Assembly, 12 more than initially received.

But Gusciora, one of two openly gay legislators in the state, shouldn't look to neighboring 23rd District legislators to make up the needed votes. State Sen. Michael Doherty, an outspoken supporter of traditional marriage, said he doesn't see the override gaining the necessary support.

"I don't think they'll be able to overcome the Governor's veto," said Doherty, R-Warren/Hunterdon/Somerset.

Both Doherty and Dimaio said they stand by Christie's stance on putting the matter to a ballot vote rather than letting Trenton decide its fate.

"I think the people of New Jersey should have the ability to decide this issue," said Doherty.

Gusciora has consistently said he's against putting issues of civil rights to a ballot vote but recently advocated in a Jan. 21 Times of Trenton opinion column for accepting Christie's proposal and placing the question in the hands of voters.

"In the alternative, we can wait for the next governor or a final resolution by the courts, both expected no time soon," Gusciora wrote in the paper's column. "By having a ballot measure in place, there would be a viable alternative in the event the Legislature cannot muster the support to override Gov. Christie’s veto."

But for Troy Stevenson, chairman of Garden State Equality, the idea of putting same-sex marriage on a ballot is a lot less attractive than a veto override.

"We're fully focused on the override at this point," Stevenson said.

Stevenson said the group is organizing override support efforts across the state and holding town hall meetings on the issue.

"We're absolutely going to do everything in our power to make this override happens," Stevenson said.

On Tuesday, Gusciora celebrated the efforts of a former Republican New Jersey governor by the name of "Christie" after Christine Todd Whitman joined a handful of other former GOP congressional members and governors in signing a legal brief with the U.S. Supreme Court in support of same-sex marriage.

"New Jersey's 'first Christie' has shown the courage to stand up for what's right," Gusciora said in a statement. "I look forward to the 'second Christie's' evolution on this issue as well."

The Associated Press contributed to this report.