Capital Impact Group

Governor Christie recently named Deputy Chief of Staff Matt Moench to head the newly-created Office of Constituent and Community Relations in the Office of the Governor.  The longtime Bridgewater Township Councilman and attorney joined the administration earlier this year.

After fifteen years in the private sector, and serving a stint as an aide to the late Senator Frank Lautenberg, George Helmy is now Senator Cory Booker‘s State Director.  Helmy, a native of Jersey City, had previously served as Senator Booker’s Deputy State Director.  In other Booker news, Hanna Mori was promoted to Deputy State Director after serving as Deputy Counsel.  Mori’s tenure with Booker spans back to his days in Newark City Hall, where she served as Criminal Justice Policy Research Fellow.

Victoria Brogan was recently promoted to Deputy Chief of Staff at the NJ Department of Health.  For the last six years she served as the Director of Legislative Services for the Department.

Justin Rodriguez is the new Chief of Staff to Assembly Health Chairman Herb Conaway.  Prior to his promotion, Rodriguez served as a legislative aide in Conaway’s office and previously was a campaign advisor for winning contests in the 7^th and 14^th legislative districts.  He replaces Jonathan Chebra, who was recently named Director of Government Relations & Policy at the New Jersey Hospital Association.    

Tim Mulhall is the new chief of staff to Assembly Minority Leader Jon Bramnick.  The lifelong law enforcement official had most recently been overseeing constituent matters in Bramnick’s district office.  He replaces attorney Keith Loughlin who recently returned to the private sector.

Tai Cooper, Jason Redd, and Chris James were honored by the Network Journal, in their annual “Forty Under 40” list which recognizes young accomplished African-Americans. Cooper serves as the Chief Policy Advisor of Newark, Redd is Counsel in Gibbons Law Government Affairs Department, and James is the Executive Director of the NJ Democratic State Committee.

David Weinstein is the state’s new Chief Technology Officer and member of Governor Chris Christie’s cabinet. As New Jersey’s first cyber-security adviser, Weinstein greatly understands the sensitivity issues surrounding cyber security, especially since he has been a victim of identity theft himself. Governor Christie has brought on Weinstein in hopes of modernizing state government and making both the private and public sector more accessible online. David Weinstein comes from New Jersey’s Office of Homeland Security and Preparedness, and has previously worked at the Pentagon.

In Memoriam

West State Street recently lost an icon. Hal Bozarth, executive director of the Chemistry Council of New Jersey and longtime Trenton insider died earlier this month.  He was 67.  Hal was a widely-respected advocate whose good nature and affable personality graced West State Street and the halls of the New Jersey State House for more than thirty years.  A friend of CIG’s, we extend our heartfelt condolences to his wife Debbie and son, as well as to our colleagues and West State Street neighbors at the Chemistry Council of New Jersey.

Sadly, New Jersey has lost a dedicated and widely-respected public servant. Former State Senator Raymond Bateman died earlier this week at the age of 88. Bateman served in the Legislature for two decades and was the Republican’s candidate for governor in 1977.  His son, Senator Christopher “Kip” Bateman, currently serves in his father’s Senate seat.

The Collaborative for Student Success is non-profit organization working to improve public education through a commitment to high standards for all students.