Two freshman state senators, Gordon Johnson (D-Englewood) and Andrew Zwicker (D-South Brunswick), have secured seats on the influential Senate Budget and Appropriations Committee.
Paul Sarlo (D-Wood-Ridge) continues as the longest-serving Budget and Appropriations chairman in state history; he’s held that post since 2010. Declan O’Scanlon (R-Little Silver) will become the new Republican Budget Officer. That’s the post previously held by Steve Oroho (R-Franklin), the new Senate Minority Leader.
Democrats have an 8-4 majority on the panel. Johnson and Zwicker replace Dawn Addiego (D-Evesham), who lost her bid for re-election, and Troy Singleton (D-Delran), who is now the Assistant Senate Majority Leader.
Eight other senators – five Democrats and three Republicans – will return to the committee this year.
Senate President Nicholas Scuatri has named four new committee chairmen: Vin Gopal (D-Long Branch) at Education, a post previously held by Teresa Ruiz (D-Newark), the new Majority Leader; Joseph Cryan (D-Union) succeeding Gopal at Military and Veterans Affairs; Brian P. Stack (D-Union City) replaces Scuatri at Judiciary; and Richard Codey at Legislative Oversight, a panel that Stack had chaired.
In addition to Budget and Appropriations, Johnson will be on the Commerce Committee and the Transportation Committee, and Zwicker has seats on three other committees: Higher Education; Labor; and Military and Veterans Affairs.
Three freshman GOP senators who took office on Tuesday also received their committee assignments:
* Jon Bramnick (R-Westfield), the former Assembly Minority Leader, was given seats on the Judiciary Committee and the Commerce Committee.
* Edward R. Durr (R-Swedesboro), who defeated Senate President Steve Sweeny in 2021, has been assigned to the Environment and Energy Committee and the Health, Human Services and Senior Citizens Committee.
* Jean Stanfield (R-Westhampton) was assigned to the Environment and Energy Committee and the Law and Public Safety Committee.
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June 5, 2019