Maer will join Corzine campaign

William Maer, a lobbyist and Democratic political consultant, will be joining Gov. Jon Corzine's re-election campaign full-time, presumably to watch over operations in Bergen and Passaic counties.  Maer is a veteran of Bergen politics and has been a consultant and spokesman for the Bergen County Democratic Organization for the last seven years.

Maer is one of several veteran operatives that are expected to join the Corzine campaign now that Jamie Fox is coming aboard as an unpaid advisor.  Philip Alagia, the Chief of Staff to Essex County Executive Joseph DiVincenzo, will start this week as the campaign's political director.

Speculation that Democratic strategist Steven Ayscue will be joining the Corzine campaign is not accurate, Democratic sources say.  Ayscue, a top advisor to South Jersey Democratic leader George Norcross, was on the list of experienced operatives the Corzine campaign was looking to recruit.  But sources close to Ayscue say he did not receive an offer.

The 41-year-old Maer is a partner at Public Strategies Impact, one of the state's largest lobbying firms.  One of his partners, former Kean administration official Roger Bodman, is backing Republican Christopher Christie for governor.  Maer also serves on the New Jersey Building Authority, and is the spokesman for Passaic County Sheriff Gerald Speziale.

Before going into the lobbying business, Maer was an aide to Gov. James Florio, Chief of Staff to U.S. Rep. Bill Pascrell (D-Paterson), and the Associate Executive Director of the Assembly Democratic office.