Cryan alleges lawsuit against Fox connected to GOP

A report that the chief financial officer of the New Jersey Board of Public Utilities will appeal the dismissal of his lawsuit against BPU President Jeanne Fox is politically motivated, according to Democratic State Chairman Joseph Cryan.  Joseph Potena had sued Fox, claiming he was mistreated after exposing an $83 million Clean Energy Program account where there are allegations of improper management.

"It proves once and for all that the lawsuit and Republicans politics have been intertwined from the beginning of this 4 1/2 year-old case, said Cryan (D-Union), who is also an Assemblyman. "Republicans have been leaked legal documents since the start of the lawsuit.  They have used the lawsuit to pillory a decent, dedicated and proven public servant of thirty years."

Cryan says that Fox's leadership has spurred New Jersey's national leadership on renewable energy. "We have an energy master plan that is a model for every other state, and a clean energy program that has rocketed New Jersey's solar market into the second biggest in the nation, second only to California," he said.

"Every attack by the Republicans against Jeanne Fox has been discredited by the facts.  Every legal maneuver by the plaintiff and his lawyer has been repudiated by the courts, and now in their final, desperate act of vengeance, they team up together to betray the truth of their collaboration," said Cryan.  "This is Republican vengeance against Jeanne Fox and her husband, Democratic consultant Steve DeMicco.  Their motives are now revealed. Their collaboration is laid bare."

Fox has been reappointed to the BPU by Gov. Jon Corzine.  The Senate Judiciary Committee was scheduled to consider her nomination on Monday, but the session was cancelled due to weather.