New Jersey Gov. Jon Corzine last week announced he would hold off on filling board vacancies in key agencies and commissions in deference to incoming governor Chris Christie, who will take office on Jan. 19.
Corzine said he would not nominate new board members to certain agencies, including the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, the New Jersey Turnpike Authority, the New Jersey Sports and Exposition Authority, the New Jersey Transit Agency, the Board of Public Utilities, and others.
The governor and Christie will work together during the next few weeks to quickly fill open seats on the State Investment Council, which manages the pension investment fund.
“Today’s announcement embraces the principle that the current composition of certain policy-making boards and commissions should remain unchanged so that the incoming administration has the ability to consult with the Senate as to the qualifications of current holdover members and potential future appointees,” Corzine said in a prepared statement.
In return for not adding new members to authority boards, Corzine said the agreement with Christie includes that certain judge and prosecutor appointments will move through the Legislature.
“The agreement recognizes the prerogative of a sitting governor to make appointments but extends to the governor-elect deference that should be rightfully afforded any administration as it prepares to work with the Senate to advance candidates to policy-making boards,” Corzine said. “The agreement further recognizes that many current board, judicial, and prosecutorial vacancies resulted from qualified candidates being blocked and that obstructionism should not be rewarded.”
