Robert Schwaneberg

Among the Star-Ledger reporters who have accepted the buyout and will be leaving the newspaper: Jeff Whelan and his wife, Kate Coscarelli; John Martin, who covered the U.S. Attorney's office and is now reporting on the Ft. Dix trials; Trenton reporters Dunstan McNicholl, Joe Donohue, Tom Hester, and Robert Schwaneberg; columnists Fran Wood and Joan Whitlow; Middlesex County reporter Diane Walsh; editorial page editor Fran Dauth; Washington, D.C. reporter Robert Cohen; and Ron Marsico, who covers the Port Authority and is likely to wind up there as a staffer.

Sources familiar with the Star-Ledger newsroom say that Robert Schwaneberg, Joe Donohue, Rick Hepp, Dunstan McNichol, Kate Coscarelli, Matt Reilly and Tom Hester Sr. are among the veteran reporters who have accepted a buyout agreement.   Josh Margolin, Claire Heininger, Susan Livio and Tom Martello are part of the group that will stay on.

Two longtime Star-Ledger reporters, Robert Schwaneberg and Joe Donohue, are among a group of reporters who will accept the newspaper's buyout offer and retire this year, according to sources familiar with the Star-Ledger newsroom. Schwaneberg covered the state judiciary for many years (before his wife, Helen Hoens, was named Associate Justice of the New Jersey Supreme Court) and is now covering the race for United States Senator.  Donohue covers the statehouse.

The announcement today that Dr. Frederick Herrmann will retire after 23 years as Executive Director of the New Jersey Election Law Enforcement Commission prompts speculation on his successor.  While Herrmann had built a reputation as a non-partisan enforcer of campaign finance laws, his three predecessors came from political backgrounds – and while the new Executive Director will be named by the four ELEC Commissioners (two Democrats and two Republicans), it’s more likely that Gov. Jon Corzine will influence the process. 

With some senior Star-Ledger reporters being offered buyouts, one possible candidate for Herrmann’s $125,000-a-year job is Robert Schwaneberg, who spent years covering state government, including the Judiciary and ELEC.  Schwaneberg, the husband of New Jersey Supreme Court Justice Helen Hoens, is well-liked by Corzine and by Democratic and Republican leaders.  One front office insider suggested that several soon-to-be former Star-Ledger reporters will find their way into the administration.

Robert Schwaneberg is one of the Star-Ledger's most respected reporters -- a true professional with the highest possible ethics. But his coverage of Governor Jon Corzine's recovery from a serious automobile accident two weeks ago offers a potential appearance of a conflict: last year, Corzine appointed Schwaneberg's wife, Helen Hoens, to the New Jersey Supreme Court.

If Corzine's ability to serve is ever challenged by the Legislature, it would be up to the Supreme Court to decide whether he could continue as Governor. The Star-Ledger has an exceptionally able team in Trenton, and it could be helpful to the people's long-term interests -- which could include a constitutional crisis -- if they helped avoid a situation where one of the seven Justices is forced to recuse herself.