Sarlo named Judiciary Chairman

State Sen. Paul Sarlo (D-Wood-Ridge) was officially tapped by Senate President Dick Codey (D-West Orange) to become Judiciary Chairman today.

Sarlo, a civil engineer, fills the spot left open by state Sen. John Adler (D-Cherry Hill), an attorney who’s moving on to the U.S. House of Representatives. 

“I have every confidence in Paul Sarlo’s ability to lead the Judiciary Committee with both an impartiality and a respect for the enormity of his responsibilities,” said Codey.  “Paul understands the need for a fair and autonomous committee system, particularly when it comes to the Judiciary Committee, which is charged with ensuring the system of checks and balances that enables all branches of our government to run well.” 

Sarlo, who’s also the mayor of Wood-Ridge, has a record that some consider controversial.  He has been a close ally of Bergen County Democratic Chairman Joe Ferriero, who in September was indicted in eight corruption counts, and was an early proponent of the ill-fated EnCap development project.   

Last year, Sarlo was Codey’s pick for Senate Majority Leader, but lost out to state Sen. Stephen Sweeney (D-West Deptford), who was backed by Codey’s South Jersey rivals.  Ferriero’s chief Democratic critic, state Sen. Loretta Weinberg (D-Teaneck), took flack from some north Jersey Democrats for voting for Sweeney over a fellow Bergenite.  But today she did not lament Sarlo’s appointment.

“I hope he’ll work at being judicious and fair chairperson,” she said.  “We’re in the ‘can’t we all get along?’ stage in Bergen County.”

Sarlo is expected to give up his chairmanship of the Senate Labor Committee.  The two leading candidates to replace him there are state Sens. Sandra B. Cunningham (D-Jersey City) and Fred Madden (D-Washington Township).