Interims and actings as Sherrill’s new cabinet settles in

Gov. Mikie Sherrill has named seven new cabinet members on an acting basis until the are confirmed by the New Jersey State Senate: Jennifer Davenport (Acting Attorney General); Shirley Emehelu (Acting State Comptroller); Ed Potosnak (Acting Commissioner of Environmental Protection); Raynard Washington (Acting Commissioner of Health); Margo Chaly (Acting Secretary of Higher Education); Steven Cha (Acting Commissioner of Human Services); and Rosalie Johnson (Acting Administrator of the Motor Vehicle Commission).

Lt. Governor Dale Caldwell, who also became Secretary of State today, does not require Senate confirmation.

Aaron Binder has been named acting State Treasurer.  He is Sherrill’s choice for the job.

Sherrill has not finalized her pick for Commissioner of Labor, and today named Michael Marcich as interim commissioner until she finishes her cabinet selection process. Marich, who had served as deputy commissioner under Rob Asaro-Angelo, is a 29-year veteran of the state government who began working as a Department of Labor claims examiner in 1996.

Sherrill has also not yet settled on a pick for New Jersey State Police Superintendent and has left interim superintendent Dave Sierotowicz in place for now.  Sierotowicz was named by then-Gov. Phil Murphy last month, following Pat Callahan’s retirement.

Longtime Deputy Commissioner of Transportation Joe Bertoni is serving as interim commissioner until Sherrill’s pick, Priya Jain, is named acting commissioner.

Vincent Solomeno continues as acting commissioner of Veterans Affairs.  He is  Sherrill’s nominee and is awaiting Senate confirmation; Solomeno already has all three senators with courtesy over his appointment on board.

At the Department of Education, Kevin Dehmer has switched from commissioner to interim commissioner; he’ll remain in that slot until Sherrill’s nominee, Lily Lax, is ready to become acting commissioner.  Justin Zimmerman, who had served as Murphy’s Commissioner of Banking and Insurance, switches to interim commissioner; Sherrill has already picked Susan Ochs for the post, and she will soon become acting commissioner.  Allison Chris Myers is also interim chair of the Civil Service Commission; Sherrill has not said whether Myers is in or out.

Mary Maples remains as interim CEO of the Economic Development Authority until Evan Weiss becomes acting CEO.  The full EDA board must approve Sherrill’s pick of Weiss.

Some Sherrill cabinet members retained from the Murphy administration have no change in job title and require no Senate confirmation: Lisa Asare, as president and CEO of the Maternal & Infant Health Innovation Authority; Dave Cole, as Chief Innovation Officer; and Tom Hauck, as director of the New Jersey Office of Homeland Security.

Christine Norbut Beyer is now the interim commissioner of the Department of Children and Families; she will depart over the next few months after serving in Murphy’s cabinet for 8 years, and Sherrill has not yet announced her replacement.

Sherrill is keeping Commissioner of Community Affairs Jacquelyn Suárez and Commissioner of Corrections Victoria Kuhn, both Murphy cabinet veterans; the two now hold the acting commissioner title until the Senate again confirms them.

There is no change for Secretary of Agriculture Ed Wengryn, a member of the governor’s cabinet, even though the State Board of Agriculture picked him.  Sherrill affirmed that pick again last week.  Brig. Gen. Yvonne Mays, The Adjutant General of the Department of Military Affairs, is staying on under Sherrill but does not require Senate confirmation.

Christine Guhl-Sadovy remains as president of the Board of Public Utilities.  Sherrill has not yet indicated her plans.

Christopher Rein goes from being Chief Technology Officer to keeping the post on an interim basis.  He is expected to leave state government in the coming months.