Skip Cimino

Two politicians with new jobs: former Assemblyman Anthony "Skip" Cimino is the new CEO of Robert Wood Johnson Hospital in Hamilton and West Caldwell Mayor Joseph Tempesta is the new East Hanover Township Administrator.

Cimino takes the helm of the hospital even though he has never run a health care company.  He operated a small flooring business before becoming running for the Legislature, and after he lost in 1991, he became Gov. Jim Florio's Commissioner of Personnel.  Later he worked for Schoor DePalma, the politically active engineering firm, and ran unsuccessfully for the State Senate.  His son is now a Mercer County Freeholder.

Tempesta, an unsuccessful Republican candidate for State Assembly in 2001 against John McKeon (D-West Orange) and Mims Hackett (D-Orange), spent less than two years as the administrator in Mountain Lakes before getting the East Hanover job this week.  He told The Star-Ledger that he will "waive his health insurance benefits in East Hanover," an act of tremendous sacrifice, since the taxpayers of West Caldwell give him full health benefits.

Again in an act of personal sacrifice, Tempesta supports Republican Christopher Christie for Governor despite Christie's pledge to end dual public office holding and health benefits for part-timers.

The resignation of Elizabeth Muoio to take a pension-boosting county job means that Democrats will hold a Special Election Convention on March 15 to elect a new Mercer County Freeholder.  Potential candidates include: Mike Maloney of Hamilton, the Plumbers and Pipefitters Local Union No.

Mercer County Democrats will hold an open convention in 2008, which means that two incumbent Freeholders, Lucy Walter and Tony Mack, won’t automatically get party support if they decide to seek re-election.  Democratic sources say that several candidates are expected to seek the Freeholder nod, including John Cimino, an unsuccessful candidate for Hamilton Councilman last week and the son of former Assemblyman Anthony “Skip” Cimino.