TRENTON After sifting through nearly 8,000 proposed state slogans that ran the gamut from colloquial ``NJ: How You Doin’?!’’ to the cynical ``Most of Our Elected Officials Have Not Been Indicted’’ the acting governor revealed the five finalists of a statewide contest Wednesday. All five potential tag lines are a bit more serious than some of those submitted by state residents, who also will get to choose the winner. Acting Gov. Richard J. Codey explained that the billions of dollars tourism contributes to the state merits a more straight-laced slogan. ``As residents, we already know New Jersey is a great place to work, live and play,’’ he said. ``We have everything here except a catch phrase that communicates our unique charm to tourists.’’ Codey launched the contest for a new tourism slogan after rejecting as too negative the one a marketing company was paid $260,000 to drum up. Codey said that ``New Jersey: We’ll Win You Over,’’ reminded him of when he was single and would ask girls out on a date. ``It starts with a negative connotation,’’ Codey said. ``Go out with me one time. I think I can win you over.’’ So, the acting governor invited residents to try their hands at creating a slogan that will be used on signs and Web sites promoting the Garden State. Tourism generated $32 billion in New Jersey last year, Codey said. The finalists are: ``New Jersey: Expect the Unexpected.’’ ``New Jersey: Love at First Sight.’’ ``New Jersey: Come See for Yourself.’’ ``New Jersey: The Real Deal.’’ And, ``New Jersey: The Best Kept Secret.’’ Residents can vote for the tag line they like best by calling 609-984-9893 or by going to the Web site www.nj.gov/slogan through Jan. 1. Saying he’d vote for ``Love at First Sight,’’ Codey joked that no woman ever experienced such a sensation upon meeting him. The person who submitted what turns out to be the winning slogan will receive prizes, which could include tickets to a Nets basketball game and a weekend at a Shore bed-and-breakfast. ``We’ll make it worth their while,’’ Codey said. The contest prompted some entries that capitalized on stereotypes of New Jersey as the home of mobsters, political corruption, traffic-choked highways and billowing smokestacks. None of those made the final cut. Codey acknowledged that New Jerseyans might prefer an edgier slogan than the choices provided, but noted that the tag line is meant to attract first-time visitors. ``The top five lines hint at our marvel and our beauty,’’ Codey said. ``And, if nothing else, it should get us a second date.’’