New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy recently announced a transition in his executive staff, with several key members departing and new individuals joining the team. This news comes as the governor prepares for his re-election campaign and continues to navigate the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.
One of the most notable departures is that of Chief of Staff George Helmy, who has been a close advisor to Governor Murphy since his election in 2017. Helmy will be replaced by Kevin Dehmer, who previously served as the state’s interim commissioner of education.
Other departures include Communications Director Mahen Gunaratna and Deputy Chief of Staff Kathleen Frangione. Gunaratna will be replaced by Dan Bryan, who previously worked as a senior advisor to Governor Murphy. Frangione’s replacement has not yet been announced.
In addition to these departures, Governor Murphy also announced several new hires. These include:
– Stephanie Lagos, who will serve as Deputy Chief of Staff for Policy. Lagos previously worked as a policy advisor for the governor’s office and has extensive experience in healthcare policy.
– Mollie Binotto, who will serve as Deputy Chief of Staff for Operations. Binotto previously worked as the chief operating officer for the New Jersey Democratic State Committee.
– Mahen Misra, who will serve as Chief Counsel. Misra previously worked as a partner at a law firm in New Jersey and has experience in both public and private sector law.
– Darryl Isherwood, who will serve as Communications Director. Isherwood previously worked as a journalist and editor for several New Jersey news outlets.
These changes come at a critical time for Governor Murphy, who is seeking re-election in November. The COVID-19 pandemic continues to be a major issue for the state, with New Jersey recently surpassing 1 million confirmed cases. In addition, the governor has faced criticism from some quarters over his handling of the pandemic and other issues.
Despite these challenges, Governor Murphy remains popular with many New Jersey residents and has been praised for his efforts to expand healthcare access and address climate change. With his new executive staff in place, he will be well-positioned to continue pursuing his agenda and addressing the needs of the state’s residents.
