Losing a Job is Tough, Even in Politics

Trudy Doyle addresses Bridgewater Township and Raritan Borough officials at the 5/12/2010 meeting to resolve the Bridgewater-Raritan School Budget

In its opinion page on Tuesday, the Courier News discussed the non-reappointment by the Christie administration of seven executive county superintendents of schools.  One of those is Trudy Doyle who had filled that position for Somerset County, until December, 2010.

A county executive superintendent represents the New Jersey Commissioner of Education, and has a wide range of responsibilities over all of the school districts in her or his purview, in this case, Somerset County. 

Among those duties, is the review and approval of each school district’s budget, before it can be presented to the voters for their approval or rejection.

All seven superintendents who were not asked to stay were Corzine appointees.  It might be assumed that Governor Christie is simply going along with the usual political practice of appointing his own people.  But, judging from the tone of today’s State-of-the-State address by Christie, I think it’s deeper than that. 

The governor’s stated number one goal is doubling down on fiscal discipline, closely followed by fixing the state pension plan, and reforming the state’s education system (his second and third priorities).

For those reasons, he may have very specific ideas about whom he wants to fill those slots, and precisely how he wants new appointees to work with him to execute his three major goals.

Depending upon where you sit in the ongoing New Jersey debate about fiscal responsibility and education reform, this will be bad news – or good news.

Thanks for reading and remember to pace your activities and driving during tomorrow’s third winter blast.