Jeannine LaRue

Reality TV star Randal Pinkett told the Associated Press this morning that he would consider running for Lt. Governor if Gov. Jon Corzine asks him to join the ticket, but said his meeting with the governor has not led to an offer yet.

A group of civic, academic and religious leaders, some very close to Corzine, submitted an op-ed to the Star-Ledger today endorsing Pinkett for the job - and slapping the state's largest newspaper for dismissing Pinkett's candidacy so quickly.  The letter was submitted by former PSE&G CEO Alfred Koeppe and the Rev. M. William Howard, and said it represented the views of former Corzine Deputy Chief of Staff Jeannine LaRue, Rutgers Professors Carl Van Horn, the Rev. Reginald Jackson, former Secretary of State DeForest "Buster" Soaries, Newark leader Clement Price, and Richard Roper, the Planning Director of the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey.

Conventional wisdom is that Pinkett would not speak publicly about his interest in running for LG until after Corzine made his pick.  But maybe the selection process is one big reality show, and Pinkett will use the forum to show Democratic leaders what kind of candidate he would make.  If he takes that kind of gamble and wins, it might give Corzine the cover to select him.

• With Barack Obama surging in Iowa and New Hampshire, Bill Clinton comes to New Jersey to raise $1 Million for Hillary.

  Quinnipiac Polls: Corzine approvals are slipping, and Hillary and Rudy have solid leads.

  After a bitter primary, Democrats find peace in Hudson County.

  Ocean County Republicans pick John Kelly to run for Congress.

  PolitickerNJ.com’s Jeannine LaRue cartoon causes a stir.

  And Tom Kean, Jr. grows a goatee!

The announcement that Gov. Jon Corzine’s Deputy Chief of Staff, Jeannine LaRue, will join Rutgers University as a government relations advisor has drawn criticism from Assemblyman Michael Patrick Carroll, a Morris County Republican.

Governor Jon Corzine is already getting a return on his investment. He announced this week that he would contribute $1 million to Rutgers University as part of his decision to help raise money to privately finance a stadium expansion. Now Rutgers has announced that they have hired Jeannine LaRue, Corzine’s Deputy Chief of Staff, for a new position to advise Rutgers on government relations at an annual salary of $250,000 – about double what she was making in the Governor’s office.

Before joining the Corzine administration, LaRue was the Senior Vice President of Goverment Affairs at the state's largest health care system, St. Barnabas, and was the lobbyist for the New Jersey Education Association.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
December 20, 2005

CONTACTS:
Ivette Mendez
Andrew Poag
Brendan Gilfillan
(609) 826-5100

CORZINE NAMES THREE DEPUTY CHIEFS OF STAFF AND PRESS SECRETARY
LaRue, McGuire, Moran, and Coley tapped for posts

TRENTON – Governor-elect Jon S. Corzine today announced that Jeannine LaRue, Patti McGuire and Maggie Moran will join his administration as his deputy chiefs of staff. Corzine also selected Anthony Coley to serve as press secretary.

"I need top-notch people to work closely with me as we tackle the issues facing New Jersey, and, individually, Jeannine LaRue, Patti McGuire and Maggie Moran have tremendous skills and incredible experience," Corzine said. "I am glad they have agreed to join my team and help me make things work."