Gov. Phil Murphy has nominated Somerset County Democratic Vice Chair Zeon Christodoulou and former Assemblywoman Maria Rodriguez-Gregg (R-Medford) to serve as commissioners of the New Jersey Board of Public Utilities.
They will replace former Upendra Chivukula and Diane Solomon, who were unsuccessful in seeking new terms on the BPU. Their terms had already expired and they are serving on holdover status.
Christodoulou will replace Chivukula, a former Democratic assemblyman from Somerset County. Gregg will take the seat of Solomon, a South Jersey Republican and the wife of New Jersey Supreme Court Justice Lee Solomon.
“Zenon and Maria will provide valuable insights and skills to further our mission of transitioning to a 100 percent clean energy future while ensuring reliable and affordable utility services,” said Murphy. “I am confident that their leadership and commitment to New Jersey will be valuable assets at BPU.”
The governor’s office is actively interviewing candidates for future nominations to the BPU. MaryAnna Holden, a former Republican mayor of Madison, is currently on holdover status, and Bob Gordon, a former state senator from Bergen County, is up next year.
“It is our sincere hope that, if confirmed, the new members first tasks will be to release the original cost estimate of the Energy Master Plan and ensure the second cost study underway captures the true total costs of the EMP on New Jersey’s working families and businesses,” said Ron Morano, the executive director of Affordable Energy for New Jersey. “Our energy leaders must commit to transparent energy policy focused on affordability and reliability, not saddle our residents with high costs and new taxes. We urge the new appointees to stand up for affordable energy and promote real transparency on the Board.”
A businessman and Raritan Valley Community College trustee, Christodoulou had dipped his toe into the waters as a potential candidate for Congress, State Senate and Somerset County Commissioner on several occasions.
“I appreciate the impact that today’s decisions will have on the businesses of tomorrow and on generations yet to come,” Christodoulou said. “The professionals and visionaries at the BPU, who have helped shape New Jersey’s landscape, continue to be a model for the nation and I look forward to contributing to that great tradition.”
Rodriguez-Gregg served two terms in the State Assembly as the first Latina Republican lawmaker. She did not seek re-election in 2017 after charged with driving while intoxicated in an incident recorded on a police officer’s body camera.
“I consider it a great honor to be able to step back into public service and serve the people of New Jersey,” said Rodriguez-Gregg. “ I’m committed to the prospect of providing and ensuring that New Jersey has a diverse energy plan that delivers clean, reliable, and affordable energy to its consumers.”
In December, Rodriguez-Gregg had been named government relations director at Montclair State University.
All three Republican legislators in the 8th district in 2017 are now more closely aligned with Democrats. Dawn Addiego, a state senator, switched parties in 2019 and lost re-election as a Democrat last year. Assemblyman Joe Howarth (R-Evesham) attempted to switch parties, but Democrats didn’t want him; he later lost a GOP primary. Rodriguez-Gregg had criticized the campaign of GOP gubernatorial candidate Jack Ciattarelli on Twitter last fall.
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