Jeannine Larue is a consummate professional, has an extensive public affairs portfolio and was quite an asset to the Corzine team.  With all the trouble McCormick is having having his phone calls returned from the Governor,it would do Rutgers well to have someone of Jeanine's stature steering the government affairs ship there.  Oh and by the way, why does everyone start screaming when a person of  color demands a high salary.  Nary a peep when the good ole boys made their millions coming before the Legislature huh Mr. Carroll.  Carroll is all wet! 

Does Richard McCormick have a totally tin ear?   Rutgers is constantly pleading poverty, McCormick declares war on the university's labor unions and then turns around and doubles LaRue's salary ....not to mention the premium pension bonus this gives her.

Come on President McCormick, put down the wine and start thinking clearly!

DD

isn't going to pass the smell test.

I want to echo the first comment.  Ms. LaRue is the greatest!  She has a real passion for students and young people.  Rutgers has a real asset in her.  In fact, if Ms. LaRue was in it for the money, she could go in the private sector and make much more.  Her passion is in being a public servant, so I think the Rutgers VP job is a great opportunity for her.  If Corzine was smart, he would have made her Chief of Staff!

PS Carroll's point about her salary being more than the governor is a little lame; you have school superintendents getting paid more than Corzine is!  In addition, $250,000 is small fries compared to the total budget of Rutgers. Carroll should save the false anger on something more important.

The NJ pension system has Larue originally enrolled in 1983. So she has some time in the system. In 3 years at age 60 she will be eleigible for state pension based upon her last three years of service at $250k per year. She would get $4500 per year for each year in the system. This is nothing but a total scam. McCormick needs another useless employee as much as the average person needs herpes.

No doubt, Jeannine LaRue is a very capable person, but "an asset to the Corzine team?" What did she accomplish?  Perhaps through no fault of her own she was constrained in her dutoes.  Maybe a lack of authorization to implement as she saw fit or perhaps she was restrained by Corzine's Wall Street know it alls.  So perhaps a move on is warranted.  But $250,000?!  That is obscene.  It's a public sector job.  Beneifts are supposed to be the attraction, in lieu of lower pay. This is more than comparable to private secotor pay, and we taxpayers foot the cost----for years to come when you add in the pension.  And no wonder Rutgers has to deny students the chance to particpate in sports like tennis or fencing....salaries like this consume more than what it cost to keep these teams running!

 And I agree with Jerellb "If Corzine was smart, he would have made her Chief of Staff!"  Less cost to taxpayers and she could do us all well since she knows all of the players.  Again though, taxpayers do note get appropriate benefit for her being paid $250K with all the benefits at Rutgers. So I also agree with Jerellb, "the Rutgers VP job is a great opportunity for HER."  Unfortunately, not for NJ Taxpayers and Rutgers students who also help foot her now high standard of living.  Crticicm againtoo...her salary is "small fries compared to the total budget of Rutgers."  Tell that to the students kicked out of sports programs that have been eliminated.  They cost Rutgers much less!  And mom in law, give us a break, "when a person of  color demands a high salary."  There's been plenty a criticism of all the white pols padding pensions and getting paid too much and double dipping,  This is not about race; it's about we struggling taxpayers footing the bill for that which simply is not needed, that for which this State as debt ridden as we are, simply can not afford! 

I agree with several of the writers here on LaRue's salary.  I happen to know her well and have a little different twist on her value and career goals.  Jeannine LaRue is no kid...she's a 57-year woman who has worked in both the public and private sector for more than 30 years.

 LaRue has taught high school and college.  She's served on two college boards and as Commissioner on the Casino Control Commission.  She served as an NJEA lobbyist for a decade...the most powerful union in the State.  Jeannine was the youngest, first woman, and first African American elected into office in Winslow Twp and served for 12 years. And...before she came into Corzine's Administration, she served for a decade as Sr. VP of the Saint Barnabas Health Care System...the largest healthcare system in the State.  And then...beyond my advice...she took a huge pay cut and joined the Front Office...and you're right...was never utlitized to her greatest potential.

 I've heard LaRue speak several times and am amazed that she refuses to wear her race or her gender on her sleeve.  She has an uncanny ability to believe in people when they don't believe in themselves.  It is that unique trait that will cause business leaders, community leaders, and yeah...even some politicians to take a deeper look at the wonderful story to be told about Rutgers.

 Finally...I cracked up when I read about her supporting her high standard of living...she lives in TRENTON, drives a Chevy, and is raising two teenage grandchildren.

Rutgers is paying what the market will bear. Everyone was waiting with baited breathe to hear whether that million dollar coach was going to stay or go to Michigan. PLEASEEEE   Again, seldom do we raise an eyebrow when some European descendent receives a cushy landing.  McCormick gives his girlfriend/wife a promo a raise and nary a peep. Rutgers is DESPERATE for diversity in their upper administrative ranks. McCormick has been called to task about this issue (it is still the STATE University is it not?) for YEARS!  Well Rutgers bought a million dollar baby to repair its struggling football team.  Its now bringing in a quarter million dollar baby to repair its awful image with the front office.  They got off CHEAP!

"$250,000 is small fries compared to the total budget of Rutgers."

This is why these people do not work in the private sector.  While it might be like $2 at Rutgers, to the rest of us it is $250,000. 

Don't play the race card to cloud the issue.  I don't care if she is green, puple, black or white.  I also dont care if she was a he or if she was a Dem, Repub or Communist.  I dont care how nice of person she is.  I dont care if she walks on water.  Paying ANYONE $250K to lobby the STATE LEGISLATURE regarding their own STATE UNIVERSITY is laughable on its face-period.  No reasonable person could say otherwise.  Its a bad joke, and no one's laughing-except maybe Ms. LaRue & Jon Cor$ine.

She is getting paid the going rate for VPs at a major flagship university.  What do you think would be a good salary for her?  $100K, $150K?  To attract good candidates, you have to pay them what they are worth.  With Jeannine's credentials and connections, I think the salary is worth it.  The job is actually VP of Public Affairs, which is a little more comprehensive than just lobbying the state legislature.  Ms. LaRue will have at least half of the impact that the football coach will, so I think her salary (which is less than a quarter that the coach gets) is well worth it.  People are just hating on her and many of the good ole boys are angry that she got it.  It is just that simple.  To say that they have concerns for the cut sports at Rutgers strikes me as BS!

Here we go with the race card again.  Give me a break, this stinks all the way

Looking at the $1M investment for six years in a row to turn around the football team's image as opposed to comments being made here about the University's image at large, maybe they should have offered LaRue $1.2M instead of the measley $250K.  Afterall, the University is churning out professionals to push our State's economy. 

Btw...Mountain Man is way off base again...she isn't being paid just to lobby the State legislators.  The job is really about developing relationships with the corporate community, non-profit community, and Federal/State/local officials.  Oh...I get it...staying on the State lobbying kick is much more emotional and antagonizing.  What if the woman actually brings value to the table and it works?  You just might have more positive things to talk about of your State's University.  Afterall, it IS the State University.  What do you folks even know about this University, except what you think about McCormick...who may even be getting a bum rep himself.  How many of you have even been on one of the three beautiful campuses?  How many of you even know where the campuses are?

If LaRue's little $250K salary can just change the trashing of our State University on sites like this...we'll owe her some change and should pay her more.

Just learned that Michael Patrick Carroll is a Rutgers alumn...SHAME on you trashing your alma mater and not trying to turn around its image yourself.  Where have you been?  And...LaRue should never have to spend time lobbying the State at all...she should just work on the other areas in her portfolio for YOUR university.   Here you sit in the Legislature as Mr. Rutgers Alumn JD...how many times have you spoken up for your institution since you've been in Legislature?  How quickly we forget where we come from...ahhhhhhhhhh.

Would love to know what the message-rs think about it.  First, I think Tornoe should be fired.  He's just not funny.  My 6 yrear old could do better and does regularly. Two, he's so obvious.  Larue sitting on a check from Corzine-Oh Please!!  BORING!!