Bill Matsikoudis, the Jersey City Corporation Counsel, is the leading candidate to become the Regional Administrator of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, according to sources familiar with the appointment process.  The nomination of Lisa Jackson to head the EPA led some Democrats to believe that the veteran regulator, who became Chief of Staff to Gov. Jon Corzine in December 1, might have her own candidate in mind to replace Alan Steinberg, a Republican who was appointed by George W. Bush.  Jackson spent many years at the EPA before joining the Corzine administration as Commissioner of Environmental Protection in 2006.

Lisa Jackson, Barack Obama's choice to head the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, becomes the 18th New Jerseyan to serve in the President's cabinet since James Madison picked Samuel Southard to serve as U.S. Secretary of the Navy.  Jackson also becomes the first African American from New Jersey to serve in the cabinet.

CLICK HERE TO VIEW THE SLIDESHOW OF NEW JERSEYANS IN THE CABINET

Gov. Jon Corzine picked Edward McBride as his new Chief of Staff to replace Lisa Jackson, who will become the new EPA Administrator.

Governor Jon Corzine today announced a series of staff changes triggered by the appointment of Lisa Jackson as the Administrator of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.  Edward McBride was named Chief of Staff and William Castner will replace McBride as Chief Counsel.

Corzine also picked Diane Legreide, a former Casino Control Commissioner and state Motor Vehicles Director, as his new Deputy Chief of Staff.  She will replace Maggie Moran, who is expected to leave in a few weeks to run the Governor’s re-election campaign.  Albert Alvarez, who has served as Cabinet Liaison, will also serve as Deputy Chief of Staff.

Jaimee Gilmartin, the Governor’s Director of Appointments, has been promoted to Director of Operations.  She will replace Jose Lozano, who will move to the Office of Homeland Security and Preparedness.  Josh Zeitz, who was the Democratic candidate for Congress against U.S. Rep. Christopher Smith this year, is joining Corzine’s staff as a Senior Policy Advisor.

LAUTENBERG STATEMENT ON PRESIDENT-ELECT OBAMA'S CHOICE OF LISA JACKSON TO HEAD THE ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

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President-elect Barack Obama today picked Lisa Jackson, the Chief of Staff to Gov. Jon Corzine, as the Administrator of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency

President-elect Barack Obama this afternoon formally introduced his environmental team, which includes New Jerseyan Lisa Jackson as director of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

In front of a press corps eager to talk about the phone call flubs of Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich, who’s facing federal corruption charges for trying to sell Obama’s U.S. Senate seat to the highest bidder, Obama celebrated Jackson’s “lifetime in public service.”

“She helped make her state a leader in fighting global warming and reducing greenhouse gas emissions,” said the president-elect. “She shares my commitment to protecting our air, water and abundant natural resources.”

LESNIAK STATEMENT ON APPOINTMENT OF LISA JACKSON TO HEAD EPA

TRENTON – Senator Raymond Lesniak, Chairman of the Senate Economic Growth Committee, issued the following statement regarding Lisa Jackson's appointment to the Obama Administration:

“She's the perfect choice. She knows how to protect the environment, promote energy efficiency AND economic growth. The brightest star in the Corzine cabinet.”

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President-elect Barack Obama announces the appointment of Lisa Jackson to head the EPA.

The state Department of Environmental Protection today released their proposed plan to reduce greenhouse gas emission – five and a half months after the deadline set by law last year.  That’s one less thing former DEP Commissioner Lisa Jackson, who is Barack Obama’s pick to head the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, needs to worry about as she prepares for her Senate confirmation.   On July 6, 2007, former Vice President Al Gore joined Governor Jon Corzine in New Jersey for the signing of the Global Warming Response Act, which required a plan to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 80% on June 30, 2008.

WATSON COLEMAN: JACKSON EPA NOMINATION 'JERSEY'S LOSS, AMERICA'S GAIN'

"President-elect Obama continues to stock his cabinet with some of the nation's best, brightest and most-capable public servants--and Lisa Jackson fits that mold to a 'T.'"

ROBERTS: JACKSON A 'BRILLIANT CHOICE' FOR EPA

"At a time when the nation needs to recommit itself to the ideal that environmental stewardship and economic prosperity go hand-in-hand, President-elect Obama is making a brilliant choice."

MCKEON: JACKSON'S PASSION FOR THE ENVIRONMENT, PRAGMATIC APPROACH PERFECT MIX FOR EPA

Assemblyman John F. McKeon today applauded news that former state Department of Environmental Protection commissioner and current chief-of-staff to the governor Lisa P. Jackson will be nominated by President-elect Barack Obama to the country's top environmental job.