Governor-elect Jon Corzine

CORZINE TAPS LEONE FOR TRANSITION
Former Port Authority Chairman served Governors Byrne, Hughes, Kean, and Florio

NEW BRUNSWICK - Governor-elect Jon S. Corzine today tapped former State Treasurer and Port Authority Chairman Richard C. Leone to chair his transition team. Leone is reprising a similar role he served under former Governor Brendan Byrne.

As transition chair, Leone will assist Corzine in establishing an operational infrastructure for his administration and will advise Corzine on candidates for cabinet-level positions. Additionally, Leone and his staff will be of counsel to Corzine on a variety of policy issues - converting Corzine's strategic policy vision into a cohesive tactical agenda for implementing key planks of his Affordability Agenda.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
November 9, 2005
CONTACTS:
Ivette Mendez
Allyn Brooks-LaSure
Gloria Montealegre
732-729-9820 (Office)

CORZINE TAPS LEONE FOR TRANSITION
Former Port Authority Chairman served Governors Byrne, Hughes, Kean, and Florio

NEW BRUNSWICK - Governor-elect Jon S. Corzine today tapped former State Treasurer and Port Authority Chairman Richard C. Leone to chair his transition team. Leone is reprising a similar role he served under former Governor Brendan Byrne.

As transition chair, Leone will assist Corzine in establishing an operational infrastructure for his administration and will advise Corzine on candidates for cabinet-level positions. Additionally, Leone and his staff will be of counsel to Corzine on a variety of policy issues - converting Corzine's strategic policy vision into a cohesive tactical agenda for implementing key planks of his Affordability Agenda.

"I believe that Governor-elect Corzine means what he says when he talks about setting a new direction in New Jersey and I’d like to help," said Leone. "I am honored that he asked me to lead this effort and I look forward to helping him build a strong administration that makes positive changes in government and in the lives of New Jersey families."

"Throughout this campaign I have laid out an ambitious policy agenda and have outlined an aggressive framework for re-engineering government," said Corzine. "To achieve that goal, I need a strong team and infrastructure in place and Dick Leone is the right person to lead that effort. Not only is Dick Leone one of the brightest minds and ablest managers in our great state, he is also a public servant of the highest integrity. I am honored that he accepted the offer to lead my transition team."

Leone was Commissioner and Chairman of the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey from 1988 to 1994. His previous government experience included service as New Jersey’s State Treasurer (Chief Financial Officer), executive director of the White House Task Force on the Cities, administrative assistant to Governor Richard J. Hughes and executive assistant to U.S. Senator George McGovern.

Leone is President of the Century Foundation, formerly the Twentieth Century Fund, a public policy research foundation. His analytical and opinion pieces have appeared in The New York Times, the Washington Post, the Los Angeles Times, Foreign Affairs, and The Nation.

Leone was also President of the New York Mercantile Exchange and a managing director at Dillon Read and Co., an investment banking firm. He is a member of the Council on Foreign Relations and the National Academy of Social Insurance.

Leone earned a Ph.D. and was a member of the Princeton University faculty. He is married with two children.

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