PATERSON - When you easily win a governor's race that was considered to be close, it's a good bet you "connected" with the people.

"I don't want to lose that connection," Mikie Sherrill said Tuesday upon visiting the Silk City Cafe, a new dining spot overlooking the Passaic River and close by the city's Great Falls.

To that end, the governor-to-be invited residents to share their ideas and priorities through an online survey, which is available at nj.gov/govelect/survey. Responses are confidential and will be only reported in the aggregate Drawing on what she said were conversations with thousands of residents during the campaign, Sherrill suggested she knows a little about what's on the minds of residents.

People in New Jersey, she said, are angry - angry about rising energy costs, rising health insurance costs and food insecurity.

Given the state's reputation for bluntness, one would expect some survey responses to reflect that anger and to include a fair amount of complaining.

Sherrill is ready.

"That's Ok, I do want to hear."

But she said she also hopes and wants to hear "productive ideas."

Sherrill added:

"If it's keeping you up at night, it's going to keep me up at night as your governor."

The Silk City Cafe was built on the site of the old Libby's Lunch, an iconic Paterson venue that closed in 2020 after 84 years. (The historical record suggests Texas weiners were invented there) Andre Sayegh, the mayor, was delighted that the governor-elect announced the survey at one of the city's historical spots. Sayegh also mentioned that Sherrill visited Paterson right after announcing her campaign for governor last November.

As is the norm with such things, Sherrill's visit drew at least two dozen city and county officials, including John Currie, the Passaic County Democratic chair, and the local state senator, Benjie Wimberly.

Sherrill spent a lot of time criticizing Donald Trump during her successful campaign. So did New York City Mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani, who met with Trump last week at the White House.

Does Sherrill plan to meet with Trump, who does, of course, spend some time at his golf club in Bedminster?

Her reply was that as of now, she is working with Trump Administration officials on matters important to New Jersey.