RAHWAY - This seemed like one of those quick business visits that governors like to do.

Mikie Sherrill did not have an availability scheduled with reporters, so her trip Tuesday afternoon to the Millie and Joy Boutique in this Union County town was clearly designed to give the governor a chance to visit another small business.

Makes all the sense in the world from a policy perspective.

Sherrill during the campaign, and also during her two months-plus in office, has acknowledged that the state and Democrats in particular have to be more attuned to the needs of business. Dropping in on neighborhood shops is a way to reinforce that, and maybe learn something.

The governor spent some time walking around the shop and complimented the availability of knick-knacks,

Politics, however, can't be avoided. This time, it was "good" politics from the governor's point of view.

"My union supported you," said one woman. She said she was a former teacher. Of course, the teachers' union did.

Actually, so did Rahway. Sherrill won the town by a bit more than 3-1.

Raymond Giacobbe, the mayor, said he was pleased that the governor is taking on Donald Trump.

"Keep up the good fight. It makes me feel safe in Jersey," he said.

Giacobbe also had a campaign story, but it was a bit more substantial than your usual fare.

After the mayor's daughter passed away in the fall of 2022, the mayor established The Bella Kind Foundation in her memory.

The foundation actively supports community initiatives, helps families in need and also provides mentoring to young girls.

Back last fall, Giacobbe said then-candidate Sherrill was in the region for campaign events and had a break in her schedule. So, she dropped into a foundation event and spoke to the young girls.

"She was supposed to stay 15 minutes, but she stayed a half hour," the mayor said.

At the end, he said the youngsters were enthused, convinced that they too, like Sherrill, could be in the Navy, a lawyer or even a governor.

Talking to her today - some six months later - the mayor thanked Sherrill for how she "empowered" those young girls.

Probably not what the governor was expecting, but a pleasant surprise to be sure.

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