2011 Power List and Year in Review - PolitickerNJ.com

PolitickerNJ.com
Power list 2011
14
Bill
15
Maria
16
Bill
17
roger
18
Donald
19
Paul
Stepien
Governor’s Deputy Chief of Staff for Legislative and Intergovernmental Affairs
The Christie administration’s political weapon, Stepien’s importance can never be discounted in a
24/7 charged environment like New Jersey’s. But as his boss passes the midway point of his term
and Democrats grow emboldened, Stepien will become even more critical to Christie and his future.
Stepien was among the advisors Christie turned to during his brief flirtation with presidential politics.
Comella
Governor’s Deputy Chief of Staff for Communications
That figure in the back of the crowded room with the horn-rimmed glasses is inevitably brand-builder
Comella, coordinating the governor’s message. Her power increases this year by virtue of carefully
managing a gifted but decidedly challenging political figure, whose voice now projects across the entire
country as a GOP superstar. Comella is as good as anyone at saying “no” to national media outlets to
make her man an even more coveted commodity.
Baroni
Deputy Executive Director of the Port Authority of New York/New Jersey
The former 14th District senator with good relations among Democrats and Republicans alike remains
on short lists for future statewide office or a federal job in a Republican administration. Along with
number 2, Baroni is instrumental in the day to day workings of the Port Authority and has taken point
on several of the agency’s initiatives, including the completion of the Sept. 11 memorial in time for the
10th anniversary.
Bodman
Lobbyist
The longtime GOP insider retains special top-20 status as a lobbyist because of his close relations with
the Christie administration. The Public Strategies Impact agent had a 2010 rake-in of half a million
dollars.
Trump
Real Estate developer and T.V. Personality
All right, so national Republicans don’t want him to moderate any debates for their presidential hopeful,
but Trump still owns the brand name of three prime properties in Atlantic City and his brand is a
fixture along the Hudson River gold coast. He is the only New York Metropolitan area 2012 would-be
presidential contender whose East Coast attitude rivals Christie’s.
Fishman
U.S. Attorney for New Jersey
Christie’s successor at the U.S. Department of Justice hasn’t mounted that glamour public figure takedown
on his wall. But this year’s colossal federal bust of over 110 players, including members of La Cosa Nostra,
represents one of the largest single-day operations against the mafia in the history of the FBI.
Soliman
State Director for U.S. Sen. Bob Menendez
With his knowledge of suburban politics to balance the boss’s Union City-honed perspective, Soliman
20Mike
provides the perfect political complement to Menendez, say insiders, who underscore the statewide
director’s considerable Bergen knowledge as particularly valuable in an election year. With his boss 10
months away from an election, look for Soliman to be a fixture across the state in 2012.
21
Lou
Goetting
Cabinet Secretary
Goetting’s intimate knowledge of budget issues and his close contact with Bagger put him in a special
category within the administration. Highly respected by Christie and a long-time Trenton veteran,
nobody in the state knows more about the budget than Goetting.
8 PolitickerNJ