Gov. Phil Murphy has picked John Ballantyne, the Executive Secretary-Treasurer for the Northeast Regional Council of Carpenters, as the new chairman of the New Jersey Sports and Exposition Authority. Ballantyne replaces former Republican congressman Michael Ferguson, who had been named by Gov. Chris Christie.
Ballantyne is currently a sports authority commissioner.
In February, Murphy named former Assembly Speaker Vincent Prieto to serve as president and CEO of the authority, a $280,000-a-year job. Ballantyne’s post is unsalaried.