Murphy will name Diane Gutierrez-Scaccetti as new chief of staff

Gov. Phil Murphy has picked a member of his cabinet, Diane Gutierrez-Scaccetti, as his new chief of staff, several sources with direct knowledge of the selection process have confirmed.

Gutierrez-Scaccetti, the New Jersey Commissioner of Transportation since 2018, will succeed George Helmy next month.  Helmy announced his departure from the chief of staff post last week after more than four years in the post.

The job is one of the most powerful in state government.

While Murphy has settled on Gutierrez-Scaccetti, she is downplaying the news until Murphy makes an announcement.

“I am aware of what has been reported in the media about my career,” she said in an email to Transportation Department employees this afternoon.  “As of today, I am the DOT Commissioner and expect to be so for the foreseeable future.”

A career transportation professional, the 64-year-old Gutierrez-Scaccetti has never been a candidate for public office.  She served as executive director of the New Jersey Turnpike Authority and ran the Florida Turnpike before joining Murphy’s cabinet more than five years ago.

Murphy views Gutierrez-Scaccetti as a strong manager.  Last week, he told the New Jersey Globe that Helmy will continue to manage his political relationships.

Following the death of Lt. Governor Sheila Oliver in August, Murphy strongly considered naming Gutierrez-Scaccetti as her successor.  But Gutierrez-Scaccetti was taken off the list after questions regarding constitutional eligibility surfaced; a longtime New Jerseyan, she spent a couple of years living in Florida and running their turnpike authority.

Gutierrez-Scaccetti had been viewed as the frontrunner.  Three others had been finalists for the post: Deputy Chief of Staff Tim Hillmann; Commissioner of Human Services Sarah Adelman; and Kate McDonnell, the attorney general’s chief counsel and the governor’s former deputy counsel.

After working her way up the ladder at the New Jersey Turnpike Authority, Gov. Jon Corzine named Gutierrez-Scaccetti as executive director in 2008.  She left after Republican Chris Christie took office in 2010.  She served as CEO of the Florida Turnpike Enterprise from 2011 to 2017, when Murphy nominated her to serve as transportation commissioner.

In his official announcement naming Gutierrez-Scaccetti as his new chief of staff, Murphy said that she will take on her new role next Monday, October 2, but will also remain Transportation Commissioner until the end of this year.

“Diane has been a dedicated member of our administration since day one and I am looking forward to welcoming her to our senior leadership team in the Governor’s Office,” Murphy said.  “She has built an impressive track record leading the Department of Transportation and has earned the respect of legislators and elected officials across the state. Having worked with her for six years, I know that her experience and skillset make her the ideal choice to lead our entire administration.”

This story was updated at 5:08 p.m. with information from Murphy’s official announcement.