Quashed by Christie, Mooij gets second chance

Kelly Mooij has been nominated for a seat on the New Jersey Pinelands Commission, with Gov. Phil Murphy giving her a second chance at a post she lost out on nine years ago when Gov.-elect Chris Christie torpedoed her nomination.

The New Jersey Audubon’s director of government relations, Mooij had been nominated for the post by Gov. Jon Corzine after the 2009 general election.  Christie had sought to stop Corzine’s lame duck appointments and directed a Republican Senator from Mercer County to use senatorial courtesy and block Mooij’s confirmation.

Mooij, a Trenton resident, withdrew her name for consideration, saying she wanted to focus her efforts as a conservation advocate.  She had led a campaign to approve a $400 million open space bond issue in 2009.

Corzine had also nominated Jeffrey Laurenti, the former Senate Democratic Executive Director, but the nomination died when Christie took office.

Additionally, Murphy nominated Theresa Lettman, a former Pinelands Preservation Alliance official.  Lettman has a long history as a conservation advocate and also serves as a Republican County Committeewoman in Manchester.