NJ’s new Lieutenant Governor
Last week, Secretary of State Tahesha L. Way was sworn in as the next Lieutenant Governor of New Jersey. In a ceremony in the New Jersey Executive State House, Lieutenant Governor Way was sworn into her new role, which she assumed after the unexpected passing of Lieutenant Governor Sheila Y. Oliver on August 1, 2023.
Way's appointment takes effect immediately because the state constitution doesn't require Senate approval for the nomination. Lieutenant Governor Way will also continue to serve as Secretary of State.
During her tenure as Secretary of State, Way became the first Black person and first Secretary of State from New Jersey to lead the National Association of Secretaries of State (NASS) as President. Prior to becoming Secretary of State, Secretary Way was an Administrative Law Judge for the State of New Jersey. She was elected to the Passaic County Board of Chosen Freeholders in 2006, where she later served as the Freeholder Director in 2009. She also served as a Council Member for the New Jersey Highlands Water Protection and Planning Council.
Lieutenant Governor Way is a graduate of Brown University. She also holds a Juris Doctor from the University of Virginia School of Law at Charlottesville. She and her husband Charles have four children and reside in Wayne.
Murphy names new BPU President
This week, Governor Phil Murphy announced the appointment of Christine Guhl-Sadovy as president of the New Jersey Board of Public Utilities (NJBPU), succeeding the late Joseph Fiordaliso following his sudden passing last week.
Since Guhl-Sadovy is a current NJBPU commissioner, the governor can appoint her to fill Fiordaliso’s role without a Senate confirmation process.
Murphy nominated Guhl-Sadovy as a commissioner in June. Prior to that, she served as cabinet secretary as part of the governor’s senior staff.
A Lambertville resident, Guhl-Sadovy previously worked at the NJBPU – rising to the position of chief of staff under Fiordaliso and played a big role in Murphy’s clean energy agenda.
Remembering BPU President Fiordaliso
Joseph Fiordaliso, the longtime Board of Public Utilities commissioner and president who oversaw the Murphy administration’s efforts to transition the state to clean energy, passed away last week at the age of 78.
As BPU president since the beginning of Governor Murphy’s first term in January 2018, Fiordaliso led the push by New Jersey to switch to cleaner forms of energy production, including an ambitious goal to make the state the hub of the emerging offshore wind industry.
During Fiordaliso’s time on the board, the agency saw the use of solar energy increase exponentially, with more than 180,000 installations on homes and businesses in the state and the overhaul of the state’s Energy Master Plan, a document that aims to phase out the use of fossil fuels.
Born and raised in Newark’s Ironbound section, Fiordaliso retained a lifelong affection and concern for the welfare of lower-income communities.
Before joining the BPU, Fiordaliso was a longtime aide to Sen. Richard Codey (D-Essex) during his years in the Legislature and during his tenure as governor. He also served as deputy chief of staff when Codey was governor. Codey appointed him to the BPU as a commissioner in 2005, and he was reappointed by Gov. Chris Christie twice.
He is survived by his wife Marilyn, his children, Dana and Joe, and six grandchildren.
Congratulations to our clients
Earlier this week, Lt. Governor Tahesha Way, fulfilling her responsibilities as Acting Governor while Governor Murphy was out of state, signed several bills into law – including two that are particularly important to our clients.
The first is A4797/S3255 (Karabinchak, Benson,Verrelli/Diegnan, Oroho), This bipartisan legislation allows for greater use of recycled asphalt pavement (RAP) on local roadway projects Using RAP helps to lower greenhouse gas emissions, encourages the use of recycling paving materials and will help to provide cost savings to local governments. RCSG worked in partnership with our client, the New Jersey Asphalt Pavement Association and our sponsors to introduce and successfully advance this bill through the legislative process.
The second bill is A4793/S3092 (Smith, Codey, Benson, Danielsen) which authorized the installation and operation of meter collar adaptors to provide residents with a quicker and less expensive way to set up energy storage systems in their homes. This in turn will give New Jerseyans an effective opportunity to enhance energy and storm resiliency efforts where they live. RCSG worked with our client, Tesla, to build legislative support for, and help to successfully advance this legislation, along with the Solar Energy Industries Association (SEIA).
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