Murphy picks Guhl-Sadovy as new BPU President

A former top aide to Gov. Phil Murphy will join his cabinet as the new president of the New Jersey Board of Public Utilities, the New Jersey Globe has confirmed.

Gov. Phil Murphy has chosen Christine Guhl-Sadovy, who joined the BPU earlier this year, to succeed Joseph Fiordaliso. Fiordaliso, a commissioner since 2005 and the president since 2018, unexpectedly died last week at age 78.

Stephanie Lagos, Murphy’s deputy chief of staff and the longtime chief of staff to First Lady Tammy Murphy, appears to be the leading candidate for Fiordaliso’s seat, according to sources familiar with the pending nomination.

Stephanie Lagos. (Photo: Stephanie Lagos).

While working for Murphy, Guhl-Sadovy was involved in drafting the 2010 Energy Master Plan, helped implement the Clean Energy Act in 2018, and developed key details of New Jersey’s electric vehicle incentive program.

The governor may elevate any of the commissioners to serve as BPU president, a cabinet-level post, without further Senate confirmation.

Guhl-Sadovy had served as legislative and political director for Planned Parenthood Action Fund of New Jersey and as an organizer for the Sierra Club. She was Fiordaliso’s chief of staff before joining Murphy’s senior staff and became cabinet secretary after Noreen Giblin moved into the authorities unit director post.

A former Peace Corps volunteer, Lagos served as deputy chief of staff and legislative director to Assembly Budget Committee Chairman Gary Schaer (D-Passaic) before joining Murphy’s 2017 gubernatorial campaign. She served on the New Jersey Congressional Redistricting Commission that drew the current map.

As Tammy Murphy’s chief of staff, Lagos has been one of the architects of the Nurture NJ program to reduce maternal and infant mortality.

Lagos’ nomination would come during the legislature’s lame-duck session.

If the Senate confirms Lagos, a Burlington County resident, four of the five seats on the Board of Public Utilities would be held by women.

Guhl-Sadovy becomes the fourth woman to serve as BPU President, following Barbara Curran, Christine Todd Whitman, and Jeanne Fox. She also becomes the first Cabinet Secretary to serve in the governor’s cabinet since Tim Carden became Gov. Brendan Byrne’s Commissioner of Human Services.

Update — Murphy announced Sadovy’s appointment at 4:03 PM:

“For nearly two decades, Joe served as an exemplary public servant whose commitment to the future of our state – and to the next generation of New Jerseyans – was unparalleled,” Murphy said.“As NJBPU President, Joe remained steadfast in his unwavering belief that we not only can – but must – cultivate a healthier and more sustainable planet for our children and grandchildren. I’m confident that Christine, who has demonstrated her commitment to these same values time and time again throughout her invaluable service in my Administration, will continue to build upon Joe’s lasting legacy. I look forward to Christine guiding our work to responsibly transition New Jersey to a clean energy economy, while putting the needs of consumers and New Jerseyans first.”

Fiordaliso’s son, Joseph A. Fiordaliso, said that Guhl-Sadovy’s appointment: “honors Dad’s legacy and ensures that the Murphy Administration’s critically important work to reverse the worst effects of climate change continues. On behalf of the entire Fiordaliso family, I commend Governor Murphy for this appointment and extend our best wishes to Christine and the entire NJBPU team.”

Guhl-Sadovy promised to “do everything I can to honor” Fiordaliso’s legacy.

”Thank you to Governor Murphy for entrusting me with this responsibility,” she said. “I look forward to continuing to serve the people of New Jersey in this role, and making the planet healthier for my son, Joe’s grandchildren, and all New Jerseyans.”

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