Corzine nominates
former public advocate
to be attorney
general
By JEFFREY GOLD, AP
from Newsday.com January 11, 2006
TRENTON, N.J. -- Gov.-elect
Jon S. Corzine on Wednesday nominated Zulima V. Farber, a former state public
advocate, to be the state's top law enforcement official.
Farber would become New Jersey's first Hispanic attorney general if confirmed by
the state Senate. She has served in the cabinets of two other Democratic
governors.
"I am honored and humbled by this nomination," Farber said in a statement.
"These are particularly challenging times, and I look forward to working with
Governor Corzine and his cabinet to improve the lives of all New Jerseyans."
Corzine, who takes office Tuesday, said Farber's "outstanding accomplishments,
background and skills will serve the people of New Jersey well and I truly look
forward to working with her in the coming years."
As attorney general, Farber would head the Department of Law and Public Safety,
whose nearly 9,000 employees include the New Jersey State Police.
Farber, a black, Cuban-born lawyer, had been considered in 2003 for an
appointment to the New Jersey Supreme Court. She lost the support of
then-Gov. James E. McGreevey after it became public that a bench warrant had
been issued over an unpaid traffic ticket.
She has been at a noted law firm, Lowenstein Sandler of Roseland, since 1981,
and become a partner after five years.
Before joining the firm, she was assistant counsel to Gov. Brendan T. Byrne from
November 1978 to June 1981, and an assistant Bergen County prosecutor from July
1975 to November 1978.
Farber was public advocate and public defender from 1992-1994 while in the
cabinet of Gov. James J. Florio.
In an interview, Farber described herself as a "workaholic" and said becoming
attorney general was a longtime ambition.
"I have coveted that job since I was assistant counsel to the governor," she
said. "I knew that I would never run for governor, but I thought that
being attorney general would be just the greatest thing," said Farber, 61, of
North Bergen.
She said she looks forward to being able to "influence policy on a statewide
level."
Farber acknowledged that being passed over for the Supreme Court seat was a
disappointment. Asked if the rejection was warranted, she said, "I don't
believe so, but it was water under the dam."
The Senate Judiciary Committee will soon schedule a hearing on Farber, but it
will not be held before Corzine takes office Tuesday, said its chairman, Sen.
John H. Adler, D-Camden County. The committee must consider the nomination
before a vote in the full Senate.
A Republican senator on the committee, Joseph M. Kyrillos, said he was in no
rush. "Senators of both parties should be permitted ample time to conduct
a complete review of this nominee's qualifications, and gauge her thoughts and
intentions on how to renew public faith in the Office of the Attorney General,"
he said in a statement.
Another GOP senator, Anthony Bucco of Morris County, said he was concerned about
"her positions on lowering of bail and the softening of penalties imposed upon
criminals."
As state public defender, Farber asserted that mandatory sentences and high
bails contributed to prison crowding.
"I'm concerned that your attorney general is supposed to be upholding the laws
of New Jersey, not releasing people from jail prematurely," Bucco said.
After Corzine was elected in November, Farber served as co-chair of his ethics
advisory group.
Farber got her law degree from Rutgers University Law School in Newark after
receiving bachelor's and master's degrees from what is now called Montclair
State University.
Corzine has named nominees for six other cabinet posts: Kevin Ryan for
Human Services; Lisa Jackson for Environmental Protection; Dr. Fred Jacobs,
Health and Senior Services; Ronald Chen, Public Advocate; Nina Mitchell Wells,
Secretary of State; and Maj. Gen. Glenn Rieth, Military and Veterans' Affairs.
He has also asked two officials to take temporary posts while his search
continues for leaders of their departments: Assistant Corrections
Commissioner George Hayman and acting Education Commissioner Lucille Davy.
Among the posts still to be named are treasurer.
Cabinet members earn $141,000 a year.
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