State Treasurer

Gov. Casey, speaking at an informal news conference Monday, put proper focus on the tragic upheaval in the Pennsylvania treasurer's office when he said, "We've got to put that whole chapter in our history behind us as quickly as we can and re-establish the confidence of our people in the integrity of the state treasurer's office. " The most effective way to do that is through early Senate confirmation of the governor's nominee for treasurer, G. Davis Greene Jr. He would serve the two remaining years in the term of R. Budd Dwyer, who committed suicide just one day before he was to be sentenced for his bribery- related conviction.

Every now and then the voters get really lucky: They face the choice between two first-rate candidates for an important state office. That's the case in the election for state treasurer on the Nov. 5 ballot. Barbara Hafer, 52, was unchallenged in the Republican primary, in no small part because she has done a stellar job as the present state auditor general. Mina Baker Knoll no doubt was buoyed to the Democratic nomination by the name recognition of her mother, incumbent Treasurer Catherine Baker Knoll.

As James J. Florio's campaign manager, political professional Douglas C. Berman helped steamroller a hapless Republican opponent last year. Now, as state treasurer, he may face a much tougher foe: the gathering New Jersey fiscal crisis. Still, the hard times will come later. Yesterday, Florio and Berman were all smiles during a news conference at which the Democratic governor-elect announced that Berman would serve as the state's next treasurer. Both Florio and Berman continued to take a low-key stance yesterday about the state's finances, with Florio repeating his refrain that the numbers he has seen so far were sobering.

At the posh Metropolitan Club on E. 60th Street, the alphabetized luncheon guest list had "Rizzo, Frank L. " at No. 252. But just by showing up, he became the No. 1 discussion topic. The usually stay-at-home Rizzo joined the annual gathering of Pennsylvania's political power brokers and would-be candidates Saturday, adding fuel to speculation he'll run for state treasurer next year. Even though Rizzo is coming off a close 17,000-vote loss to Wilson Goode in Philadelphia's mayoral race, Republicans say he's a political legend who would bring star quality to the normally dull race for treasurer.

Former Mayor Frank L. Rizzo, who had said last week that he was "leaning" toward seeking the Republican nomination for state treasurer, has decided against doing so, political sources said yesterday. Rizzo, 67, told aides from his recent unsuccessful mayoral campaign that he had decided not to seek the state treasurer's job, the sources said. "Basically, the office never felt right," Rizzo told the aides, according to a source close to the former mayor. "I'm not going to go for an office that doesn't feel right.

Four days before voters elect a new state treasurer, the current officeholder has issued a revised code of conduct for Treasury employees, strengthening financial-disclosure requirements. Greg Penny, a spokesman for Treasurer G. Davis Greene Jr., said the timing of the new requirements did not reflect a lack of confidence in either Catherine Baker Knoll or Philip S. English, the candidates seeking the office. "It's been on the to-do list for a long time," said Penny. "If you waited until after the election, it would appear that it was directed toward one of the individuals.

TRENTON - New Jersey Network will "cease to exist" as most know it if lawmakers scrap a deal to allow a New York public broadcasting station to operate it, state Treasurer Andrew Sidamon-Eristoff told lawmakers Thursday. The law that granted the treasurer authority to negotiate the deal gives the Legislature the right to nullify it by Tuesday. The Assembly voted Thursday to approve a resolution to block the transfer to WNET-TV in New York. Testifying before the Senate Budget Committee, the treasurer said that should lawmakers veto the deal, the network would broadcast the minimum programming required to keep its license.

TRENTON - Some New Jersey lawmakers are taking a critical look at a deal to transfer operations of the state-owned New Jersey Network to one of New York's largest public broadcasting stations. U.S. Sen. Frank Lautenberg (D., N.J.) has asked Federal Communications Commission Chairman Julius Genachowski to determine whether the deal is "consistent with the public interest and with FCC rules governing broadcast licenses. " He questioned whether the deal is in the best interests of New Jerseyans.

Gov. Kean announced yesterday that he would nominate Feather O'Connor, executive director of the New Jersey Housing and Mortgage Finance Agency, to be the state's next treasurer. If confirmed by the Senate, O'Connor, 39, would succeed Treasurer Michael Horn, who announced his resignation last month to return to a private practice of finance and law. Horn's resignation is effective Tuesday. Kean said in a prepared statement that O'Connor would "bring an expertise in public financing and bonding to the post of state treasurer which will serve the government and the people of New Jersey exceptionally well.

Gov. Christie's treasurer last year chided the nonpartisan Office of Legislative Services for overly optimistic tax estimates. On Tuesday, the OLS gets to return the favor. When the Senate Budget Committee convenes Tuesday, Republican Treasurer Andrew Sidamon-Eristoff, who has been consistently conservative in his revenue estimates for the first two years of the Christie administration, will have to explain why he is projecting the equivalent of an 8.7 percent increase in revenue in the fiscal year that begins June 30 - a robust $2.2 billion New Jersey Comeback that is not only the most optimistic revenue projection in the country, but also twice as large as most other states are expecting.

TRENTON - New Jersey Network will "cease to exist" as most know it if lawmakers scrap a deal to allow a New York public broadcasting station to operate it, state Treasurer Andrew Sidamon-Eristoff told lawmakers Thursday. The law that granted the treasurer authority to negotiate the deal gives the Legislature the right to nullify it by Tuesday. The Assembly voted Thursday to approve a resolution to block the transfer to WNET-TV in New York. Testifying before the Senate Budget Committee, the treasurer said that should lawmakers veto the deal, the network would broadcast the minimum programming required to keep its license.

TRENTON - Some New Jersey lawmakers are taking a critical look at a deal to transfer operations of the state-owned New Jersey Network to one of New York's largest public broadcasting stations. U.S. Sen. Frank Lautenberg (D., N.J.) has asked Federal Communications Commission Chairman Julius Genachowski to determine whether the deal is "consistent with the public interest and with FCC rules governing broadcast licenses. " He questioned whether the deal is in the best interests of New Jerseyans.

RE RONNIE Polaneczky's column about the student who was banned from graduation: I'm appalled by Arlene Ackerman's action. To overturn Principal Mullen's decision is despicable. This young lady was late to school 40 times, and if that wasn't enough, didn't bother to make it to graduation practices on time. If participating in the graduation ceremonies was so important to Michelle Grace, she should've gotten up on time. Are we saying to our children that there are no consequences for bad behavior?

TRENTON - New Jersey residents would be able to research a wide range of data on government spending online by next summer if a proposal moving through the legislature is signed into law. The Senate approved the Transparency in Government Act, 29-3, on Thursday. The bill heads to the Assembly. "A number of states already authorize taxpayers to track their tax dollars online," said Sen. Joseph Pennacchio (R., Morris), a sponsor. "This affordable, commonsense program will provide information in a user-friendly format that can be accessed from homes, libraries, and businesses.

STATE AUDITOR General Jack Wagner, a Democrat running for governor in his fourth statewide race, said it was the first losing effort that taught him what he needs to win in Pennsylvania. Wagner ran for lieutenant governor on the ticket of then-auditor general Bob Casey in 2002 but lost to Catherine Baker Knoll, who had paired with Ed Rendell. Knoll, who died in 2008, visited every part of Pennsylvania while serving as state treasurer. Wagner is following that example, vowing to win his home base in Allegheny County along with enough votes across the state to prevail in the primary election.

Barbara Hafer, who is running in the special election to succeed late U.S. Rep. John Murtha, yesterday contended that the Democratic Party's nomination process was "flawed" and designed to favor a Murtha aide. The former state treasurer also demanded that the aide, district director Mark Critz, disclose his testimony from a House Ethics Committee investigation into Murtha's earmarks and describe his relationship to a military contractor. In an e-mail last night, Critz said he would ask the House Ethics Committee to release all the information.

Former State Treasurer Barbara Hafer, a Democrat, says she is running in a special election for the late Rep. John Murtha's 12th District congressional seat. Hafer, who also was auditor general and the Republican Party's 1990 nominee for governor, announced her intentions yesterday on the Web site pa2010.com and in the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, saying she would "never be able to fill Murtha's shoes but would be honored to follow him. " Hafer became a Democrat in 2003 after endorsing Gov. Rendell.

In the tradition of his predecessors, Gov. Corzine is giving an adviser one final reward before leaving office: appointment to a casino-funded state authority that pays $18,000 a year and keeps recipients in the pension system. Michellene Davis, the governor's chief policy counsel, was named on Tuesday to the board of the Casino Reinvestment Development Authority. Davis will join board member Peter Cammarano, who was chief of staff to Gov. Richard J. Codey in 2005 when Codey appointed him weeks before leaving office.

Gov.-elect Christopher J. Christie nominated Andrew Sidamon-Eristoff to be state treasurer yesterday, handing the former New York state taxation official the massive task of restoring financial balance to New Jersey. The new administration will inherit a budget with an $8 billion to $10 billion shortfall, a pension system sliding toward insolvency, and a bonded-debt load of nearly $34 billion. With such challenges as a backdrop, and the promise of tax relief driving Christie's victory last year, the treasurer figures to play one of the most prominent roles in the cabinet.