John Samerjan

Senate Minority Leader Thomas Kean, Jr. today called for a moratorium on spending – “at least until Governor (Jon) Corzine’s budget address” on at the end of next month – because Corzine says the state is in a financial emergency.  One Democrat asked a simple question: does that include the six-figure golden parachute, pension-securing job for John Samerjan at the Sports Authority?  Kean declined to rehire Samerjan as Senate Republican Executive Director when he took over as Minority Leader this month. 

Most Likely to Lose Their Jobs in 2008

In case you missed it, the two people listed late last month as most likely to lose their jobs in 2008 are already gone: John Samerjan was replaced as Executive Director of the Senate Republican Office, and Governor Jon Corzine announced today that Chief Counsel Kenneth Zimmerman is leaving the administration. While Corzine’s press release said that Zimmerman is leaving to join a private law firm, there should be no mistake that he was pushed out.

As one powerful political strategist put it, Pleasantville Democrats “just don’t get it.” The Democratic Party has nominated three candidates to replace Councilman Maurice “Pete” Callaway, who has pleaded guilty to charges that he took bribes to deliver contracts while serving on the school board.  The candidates for the seat vacated by Callaway are his wife, his daughter, and campaign aide, according to a Press of Atlantic City report.

And the New Jersey Sports and Exposition Authority, which must be rolling in cash these days now that the Devils have moved to a competing arena in Newark, has hired John Samerjan to serve as their spokesman.  Samerjan was essentially fired (officially, he was not asked to keep the job he’s held for the last five years) from his post as Executive Director of the State Senate Republican Office by the new Minority Leader, Thomas Kean, Jr.  He had been with the Sports Authority since Kean’s father helped him get a job there in the 1980’s. 

In a correction to an earlier report, Senate Republican Executive Director John Samerjan will leave his post after the conclusion of the current legislative session.  Samerjan was not rehired by the new Senate Minority Leader, Thomas Kean, Jr., and according to sources, was not offered, nor did he request, a different assignment in the Senate. 

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. 

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. 

John Samerjan will be removed as Executive Director of the Senate Republican Minority Office and replaced by John Kingston, the Assembly Republican Research Director, according to sources close to incoming Senate Minority Leader Thomas Kean, Jr.  

Kean will also repalce Rick England, a political operative who was Director of Constituent Relations, and John Hutchison, the Director of Research.  Michael Jennings is in danger of losing his post as Communications Director.

Senate Minority Leader-designate Thomas Kean, Jr. is expected to fire John Samerjan as Executive Director of the Senate Republican office. Samerjan, who served as Press Secretary for Governor Thomas Kean's 1985 re-election campaign, was hired by John Bennett and has held the post during Leonard Lance's four years as Minority Leader.

There is considerable speculation that John Kingston, now the Assembly Republican Research Director, is the leading candidate to replace Samerjan.