Lisa Jackson

Governor Corzine today picked a career worker from the Department of Environmental Protection to head up the agency.

Mark Mauriello, an Assistant Commissioner who’s worked for the DEP for 28 years, replaces Commissioner Lisa Jackson as she moves up to replace Bradley Abelow as Corzine’s chief of staff.

“This is a pivotal time for all of us who are committed to safeguarding and improving our environment and the quality of life in our communities, with energy and climate change issues being at the top of the list,” said Corzine in a statement. “I look forward to working closely with Mark in the coming year and will rely on his considerable expertise and sound judgment.”

Former Gov. Christine Todd Whitman served as Administrator of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency from 2001 to 2004. Now Lisa Jackson, Gov. Jon Corzine's Chief of Staff, could be the next New Jerseyan to head the EPA

Jon Corzine may not be a serious candidate for U.S. Secretary of the Treasury -- few people missed the sign last Friday when the Governor was not part on an Obama economic policy meeting and news conference in Chicago -- but his incoming Chief of Staff may be.  Lisa Jackson, the state Commissioner of Environmental Protection who is about to move to the front office, is short-listed for U.S. Environmental Protection Agnecy administrator in Barack Obama's administration, according to an Associated Press report of possible cabinet picks.

Gov. Jon Corzine has named Lisa Jackson, the state Commissioner of Environmental Protection, as his new Chief of Staff.  Jackson will succeed Bradley Abelow, a former Goldman Sachs partner who has held the job since last year.

WATSON COLEMAN WELCOMES ANNOUNCEMENT
OF LISA JACKSON AS GOVERNOR'S CHIEF OF STAFF

(TRENTON) - Assembly Majority Leader Bonnie Watson Coleman today applauded Governor Jon S. Corzine's naming of state Department of Environmental Protection Commissioner Lisa Jackson to be his new chief of staff, saying the administration is tapping one of its "brightest and most-capable minds."

ROBERTS: JACKSON A 'TALENTED MIND AND STEADY HAND'
TO LEAD GOVERNOR'S OFFICE

(TRENTON) - Assembly Speaker Joseph J. Roberts, Jr. today released the following statement regarding Governor Jon S. Corzine's selection of state Department of Environmental Protection Commissioner Lisa Jackson to be his Chief of Staff:

"With many tough challenges facing the state, Governor Corzine has chosen the right person in Lisa Jackson to lead his staff -- she is a talented mind and a steady hand."

Charles Kuperus is expected to resign his cabinet post as New Jersey Secretary of Agriculture.  A Republican, he was serving as a Sussex County Freeholder when Democrat James E. McGreevey appointed him after the 2001 gubernatorial election.  Kuperus is the lone Republican in Gov. Jon Corzine's cabinet, and since Corzine pledged during his 2005 campaign that he would make bi-partisan cabinet appointments, its possible that he'll pick a Republican for Secretary of Agricuture, or to replace Lisa Jackson at the Department of Environmental Protection.  

For the record, Corzine doesn't actually appoint the Secretary of Agriculture.  In New Jersey, Governors make recommendations to the State Board of Agriculture, who actually votes on the cabinet post.

Lisa Jackson will become the first African American to serve as Chief of Staff to the Governor of New Jersey.  She is Jon Corzine's third Chief of Staff since he took office in January 2006.  Expect other staff changes over the next few months.  It is anticipated that Deputy Chief of Staff Maggie Moran will leave the front office to manage Corzine's re-election campaign, and insiders say that Deputy Chief of Staff Patti Nelson McGuire and Policy Director Adam Zellner are also expected to leave by January. 

Gov. Jon Corzine's new Chief of Staff, Lisa JacksonGov. Jon Corzine will announce today that Lisa Jackson, the state Environmental Protection Commissioner, will be his new Chief of Staff.  Jackson will succeed Bradley Abelow, who will be staying on as an advisor to the Governor.

Editor's note: Corzine will not make an announcement regarding Jackson's appointment today, but will do so in the very immediate future.

Corzine will need to nominate someone to replace Jackson in his cabinet.

Department of Environmental Protection Commissioner Lisa Jackson remains the leading candidate to become Jon Corzine's Chief of Staff when Bradley Abelow leaves.  Speculation of Abelow's departure has persistsed for the last six months, but sources close to the administration say the former Goldman Sachs partner will most certainly be gone by the end of the year.  Democratic insiders say that Maggie Moran, Corzine's politically savvy Deputy Chief of Staff for the last four years (and State Director when he was in the Senate) will leave state government to become manage the Governor's re-election campaign.