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Raymond Martinez picked to run Motor Vehicle Commission; Fuentes to stay on as State Police superintendent

BY TOM HESTER SR.

NEWJERSEYNEWSROOM.COM

UPDATED

Gov. Chris Christie Monday moved to fill two additional cabinet positions, naming Janet Rosenzweig of Yardley, Pa. as commissioner of the Department of Children and Family Services and Raymond Martinez of Middletown as the administrator of the Motor Vehicle Commission.

The governor also announced he is keeping Col. Rick Fuentes as superintendent of the State Police.

“Dr. Rosenzweig and Mr. Martinez both have distinguished careers serving the public and I have no doubt their excellent track records will continue in my administration,’’ Christie said as he introduced them at the Statehouse. “These strong, experienced leaders will ensure that these key agencies are run effectively and efficiently.”

"Right now I have no reason that I want to change the leadership of the State Police,'' Christie said. "I've worked with colonel Fuentes for a number of years as U.S. attorney. I'm impressed with the work and leadership he's provided the State Police. So i had a meeting with Colonel Fuentes last week, told him there was no reason to make nay kind of official announcement. He's on the job and I want him to stay there.''

Fuentes is the fifth member of the Corzine administration to be retained by Christie.

Christie has also named Jeanne Ashmore of Crosswicks as the director of his Office of Community Relations. Ashmore has been the director of Rep. Leonard Lance’s 7th District offices in Raritan Township and Westfield.

With the appoints of Rosenzweig and Martinez, only the position of public advocate remains to be filled to complete Christie’s cabinet.

Rosenzweig is currently a consultant, specializing in health, human services and social administration. Her primary assignment is a contract as the acting director of The Society for the Scientific Study of Sexuality, a professional membership organization, and publisher of the peer-reviewed journals, The Journal of Sex Research and the Annual Review of Sex Research.

Other assignments include public health analysis for a pharmaceutical company and teaching in Harvard University’s Kennedy School non-credit communications program. Rosenzweig is also a visiting Associate Professor at the Montclair State University Center for Child Advocacy, where she teaches graduate courses on child advocacy.

From September 2001 until July 2007, Rosenzweig was the director for Prevent Child Abuse, NJ. As the chief operating officer of the New Jersey affiliate of PCA-America; she managed multiple statewide early childhood/family support programs, including Healthy Families Visiting, Abbot Pre-school services and Parents as Teachers. She managed a budget of $3.9 million and a staff of 40.

Prior to her work with Prevent Child Abuse, Rosenzweig was the director for the Mercer County Department of Human Services. As director, Rosenzweig was directly responsible for the largest department in the Mercer County government, including the Divisions on Mental Health, Child and Family Services, Senior and Community Services. She was elected chairwoman of the State Association of County Human Service Directors in 1994 and held the position until 2001.

Rosenzweig has also held teaching positions at numerous institutions including Rider University, The College of New Jersey, Rutgers University and Penn State University. She received her degree and masters at Penn State, her PhD in social work from Rutgers and her MPA from the Kennedy School of Government, Harvard.

Martinez was most recently the deputy U.S. chief of protocol and diplomatic affairs for the U.S. Department of State and the White House. He was responsible for managing five operational divisions: Diplomatic Affairs, Foreign Visits, Ceremonial Events, Blair House, and Administration. In addition he served as counsel on diplomatic immunity issues pursuant to U.S. and international law. He managed a staff of 70 and an annual budget of $8 million.

From 2000 to 2005, Martinez served as the commissioner for the New York State Department of Motor Vehicles. The New York Motor Vehicle Commission serves more than 20 million customers per year and generates over $1 billion in annual revenues. Martinez served as chairman of the Governor’s Traffic Safety Committee, administering of $50 million annually in federal funds for state and local highway safety projects.

Prior to serving with the New York state government, Martinez was the assistant general counsel for the Long Island Power Authority, one of the largest public utilities in the nation.

Martinez received his degree from Long Island University/C.W. Post College and a law degree from St. John’s University School of Law.

Fuentes was named State Police superintendent in 2003 by Gov. James McGreevey. He has been a trooper since 1978 and was a Trooper of the year in 1993.

Ashmore served as Rep. Lance’s chief aide since 1994 when he became an Assemblyman.

In her new role, she will direct the staff that responds to constituent mail. Ashmore began her career in government as an assistant counsel to Gov. Thomas Kean.

Here is an update on how the Christie administration is taking shape:

• Lieutenant Governor — Kim Guadagno (Elected)
• Secretary of Agriculture — Douglas Fisher
• Attorney General — Paula Dow
• Banking and Insurance Commissioner — Tom Considine
• Children and Families Commissioner — Janet Rosenzweig
• Community Affairs Commissioner — Lori Grifa
• Comptroller — Matthew Boxer (Set term)
• Corrections Commissioner — Gary Lanigan
• Council of Economic Advisors Chairman — Bob Grady
• Criminal Justice Director — Stephen Taylor
• Economic Development Authority Director — Al Koeppe
• Education Commissioner — Bret Schundler
• Environmental Protection Commissioner — Bob Martin
• Governor's Appointments Council — Michele Brown
• Governor's Authorities Unit Director — Deborah Gramiccioni
• Governor's Cabinet Secretary — Lou Goetting
  Governor's Chief Counsel — Jeff Chiesa
• Governor's Chief of Staff — Richard Bagger
• Governor's Deputy Chief of Staff — Bill Stepien
• Governor's Deputy Counsel — Kevin O'Dowd
• Governor's Deputy Chief of Staff/Communications — Maria Comella
• Governor's Deputy Chief of Staff/Policy & Planning — Wayne Hasenbalg
• Governor's Director of Community Relations — Jeanne Ashmore
• Governor's Director of Operations — Rosemary Ianncone
• Governor’s Press Secretary — Michael Drewniak
• Health and Senior Services Commissioner — Dr. Poonam Alaigh
• Human Services Commissioner — Jennifer Velez
• Labor and Workforce Development Commissioner — Hal Wirths
• Law Director — Robert Hanna
• Military and Veterans Affairs Commissioner — Maj. Gen. Glenn K. Rieth
• Motor Vehicle Commission Director — Raymond Martinez
• Office of Homeland Security and Prepardness — Charles B. McKenna
• Public Advocate — Vacant
• Public Utilities President — Lee Solomon
• Secretary of State — Kim Guadagno
• School Development Auth. Board Director — Marc Larkins
• State Police Superintendent — Col.Rick Fuentes
• Treasurer — Andrew Eristoff