Christie picks Democrat for cabinet seat

TRENTON - Gov. Christie on Thursday announced his selection of a veteran Democratic lobbyist and member of former Gov. Jim McGreevey's administration to lead the state Department of Transportation.

Naming Jamie Fox as his choice for transportation commissioner at a Statehouse news conference, Christie said it would "come as no great shock" that Fox was a registered Democrat.

Fox, a fixture in state political circles, served as chief of staff to McGreevey and former Democratic U.S. Sen. Robert Torricelli. He also served as transportation commissioner, chairman of the board of NJ Transit, and deputy executive director of the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey.

If confirmed by the Senate, Fox would replace James Simpson, who resigned in June. Joseph Bertoni has been the acting transportation commissioner.

Top Democrats quickly voiced their support for Fox, with Senate President Stephen Sweeney (D., Gloucester) calling the selection "one of the best decisions the governor has made." Assembly Speaker Vincent Prieto (D., Hudson) said Fox was "a problem-solver, and New Jersey certainly has many transportation problems that need solving."

The state fund for transportation projects is $15 billion in debt. Lawmakers say more money will soon be spent on debt service than on projects to repair roads and bridges.

An annual report released Thursday by the Reason Foundation laid bare New Jersey's infrastructure problems, ranking the Garden State 48th in the nation in highway performance and cost-effectiveness.

Supporters say Fox has the experience for the job.

After taking over in 2002 as transportation commissioner, he resolved problems at the state Division of Motor Vehicles and the E-ZPass program - then run by a financial-services firm that did not have transportation experience, said Kris Kolluri, who was hired by Fox in 2002 and later became Democratic Gov. Jon S. Corzine's transportation commissioner.

"If you ask people today about E-ZPass and the DMV," Kolluri said, "they are models of convenience."

As Fox returns to the role more than a decade later, "trying to figure out how to address the funding challenges in the midterm and long term," Kolluri said, "is going to be Priority One."

Some Democrats, including Prieto, have voiced support for raising the gas tax to replenish the fund.

Fox did not take questions Thursday. He will field questions from a Senate committee during the confirmation process.

Christie said Thursday that "as we look towards any reauthorization of the transportation capital plan, all considerations should be on the table."

Asked whether options could include raising the gas tax, the governor refused to elaborate. "Is there something about 'everything's on the table' that's confusing to you? Everything is on the table," he said.

Christie also announced his selection of lobbyist Richard Mroz, a Republican, to serve as president of the Board of Public Utilities, replacing Robert Hanna, who became a Superior Court judge in January. Dianne Solomon has served as acting president.

The governor said Mroz, who served as chief counsel to former Republican Gov. Christie Whitman, has been a friend for 35 years. Mroz's nomination must also be confirmed by the Senate.

Christie named two selections as commissioners at the BPU: Assemblyman Upendra Chivakula (D., Somerset), whom Christie said would leave his legislative seat if confirmed, and Joseph Fiordaliso, a current two-term BPU commissioner.

The governor declined to comment on chief of staff Kevin O'Dowd, whom Christie announced as his pick for attorney general late last year. He has not renominated O'Dowd after the George Washington Bridge scandal. John Hoffman continues as acting attorney general.