Kean backs hiring probe of Murphy hiring practices

Senate Minority Leader Tom Kean says that the Legislature should investigate the hiring practices of Gov. Phil Murphy’s administration.

“We’ve seen a number of recent instances where it’s clear that the Murphy Administration hasn’t properly vetted candidates for employment in important positions in our New Jersey government, including an individual convicted of corruption and another who was under investigation for criminal sexual misconduct,” said Kean.

Kean is referring to Marcellus Jackson, a former Passaic city councilman who was hired at the state Department of Education following his conviction on briberty charges, and Albert Alvarez, who was the chief of staff at the New Jersey Schools Development Authority until he resigned last week.

“To preserve the public’s faith in our state government, we should hold legislative hearings to learn how the Governor’s hiring process broke down, and to determine if others were hired into the administration who shouldn’t be there,” Kean said.

Kean said he supports an effort by Republican women legislators to investigate.

Republican State Chairman Doug Steinhardt and Assembly Minority Leader Jon Bramnick also support a legislative probe.