James Harkness

December 19, 2007 - 9:01am

Kean fires England, support staffers

The word came down from Sen. Thomas Kean, Jr., on Tuesday.

Trying to change the look of the GOP Upper House team, the incoming Senate Minority Leader fired Rick England, a political operative who was director of constituent relations, in addition to several members of the minority office's support staff, Republican staff sources say.

While there is speculation that Director of Research John Hutchison is also slated to lose his job, he was absent from work on Tuesday and his status is unknown, according to sources.

Averting a firing, Communications Director Mike Jennings told PolitickerNj.com that he has accepted a communications job with PSE&G.

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January 4, 2008 - 9:17am

Kean will pick Harkness

Thomas Kean, Jr., who officially becomes the Senate Minority Leader on Tuesday, is expected to name James Harkness as the Executive Director of the Senate Republican Office.  Harkness served as Chief Counsel to Governor Donald DiFrancesco and was a top staffer in the State Senate (when the GOP had a majority of seats) before joining Riker Danzig, a politically powerful law firm. 

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December 11, 2007 - 1:00pm

Kean considers Harkness for top Senate staff post

James Harkness, a former Chief Counsel to Governor Donald DiFrancesco, has emerged as a serious candidate for Executive Director of the Senate Republican Office.  The incoming Minority Leader, Thomas Kean, Jr., has decided to replace John Samerjan, and is now looking at Harkness and John Kingston, the Assembly Republican Research Director, as the most likely replacements. 

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