New Jersey selects new tourism slogan

Marc Freeman photography.

PHILADELPHIA (Reuters) - New Jersey announced a new tourism slogan on Thursday in an effort to shrug off the state's grim reputation for traffic jams, mobsters and toxic waste dumps.

"New Jersey: Come See for Yourself," was the winning entry in a statewide contest that attracted some 7,800 entries. The public was asked for suggestions after Acting Gov. Richard Codey rejected "New Jersey: We'll Win You Over" -- a slogan devised by an image consultant at the cost of $260,000 -- as too negative.

State officials earlier rejected sardonic entries including: "Come Out to New Jersey: It's Not as Bad as it Smells" and "New Jersey: Hey, at Least it's not West Virginia." Residents of America's most densely populated state were asked to vote on five finalists, and the winning slogan, submitted by Jeffrey Antman of Passaic, got the largest number of votes, 3,373 out of a total of 11,227.

"When it comes to image, New Jersey really cares," Codey said in a statement. "I am proud to be governor of a state that has pride -- and shows it." The winning entry beat out other finalists including: "New Jersey: Expect the Unexpected" and "New Jersey: The Best-Kept Secret."

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