newjerseynewsroom.com

Governor nominates her for Superior Court judgeship

BY TOM HESTER SR.

NEWJERSEYNEWSROOM.COM

State Attorney General Paula Dow will temporarily become the First Deputy General Counsel for the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey and Jeff Chiesa, chief counsel to the governor, will become the new attorney general, Gov. Chris Christie announced Monday.

The governor also said he would file a notice of intent to nominate Dow to the state Superior Court in Essex County. He said putting forward a nominee like Attorney General Dow, who has been signed off on and voted for by all Essex senators twice in the last six years, will provide an easy confirmation and fill a needed judgeship in Essex while an agreement is being reached with the Essex County senators on a broader package of nominations. He was referring to delayed action on the appointment of Chris Cerf as state education commissioner.

Christie described the Port Authority as having a history of mismanaging its finances and noted that an audit is beginning. The governor said oversight is needed at the authority to ensure toll payers’ interests are being protected. He said Dow will be in a position to bring her law enforcement experience to monitor the audit process and recommend changes that could end fiscal waste. Christie approved a bridge and tunnel toll hike in the summer.

Dow, a former Essex County prosecutor, became the attorney general after Christie took office in January 2010. Chiesa joined the administration at the same time after a role on Christie’s transition team. He was previously a partner at the law firm of Wolff & Samson.

“Paula Dow has been one of my most trusted and effective cabinet members which is why she is needed to help keep the Port Authority accountable,” Christie said. “It is clear that the Port Authority has struggled to meet its fiscal and transparency demands which is why Paula will bring much needed on the ground, day to day oversight to ensure past mistakes are not repeated. Paula will accomplish this through a reassessment and reorganization of the Authority that will go hand in hand with the audit process so that there is a structure in place that will best serve the people of the region.”

The governor said Dow enacted strict reforms to curtail improper steroid use among police officers, provided additional tools to law enforcement by enacting a sensible stun gun policy, and managed her department’s resources efficiently. He said Dow took action to protect children against drug and alcohol abuse by cracking down on designer drugs and underage drinking, implementing programs for at-risk youths through her Office of Community Justice, and combating bullying in schools.

Commenting on Chiesa, Christie said, “I am honored that Jeff has agreed to bring his extensive legal and law enforcement experience and no-nonsense approach to lead our state’s law enforcement efforts. Jeff has long been a close, trusted advisor and friend who has always put his duties and responsibilities first with considerable talent and integrity. I have no doubt that he will build on Paula Dow’s record of success in leading the Department of Law and Public Safety.”

Prior to joining Wolff & Samson, Chiesa worked for Christie in the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Newark from 2002 to 2009, last serving as the executive assistant U.S. attorney. He is a graduate of the University of Notre Dame where he earned his degree in business administration in accounting. He earned his law degree from Catholic University of America.