"...Schundler has taken on national and state teachers unions in the past. Like the incoming governor, he is a proponent of giving parents more choices on where to send their children to school..."

N.J. Gov.-elect Christie names new education, environmental protection chiefs

By Statehouse Bureau Staff

January 13, 2010, 3:00PM

TRENTON -- Gov.-elect Chris Christie announced two more members of his cabinet today, naming business consultant Bob Martin to lead environmental efforts and former Republican candidate for governor Bret Schundler to oversee New Jersey schools.

With each nomination, Christie emphasizes his campaign promises to promote charter schools, combat teacher unions and protect the environment while making the state more business friendly.

REENA ROSE SIBAYAN/THE JERSEY JOURNALFormer Jersey City Mayor Bret Schundler poses a question to former Gov. Tom Kean during a luncheon at the Liberty House Restaurant at Liberty State Park in Jersey City in 2006.

Schundler, a former Jersey City mayor who lost to James E. McGreevey in the 2001 governor's race, is Christie's choice to run the Department of Education. He is currently the chief operating officer at The King's College, a Christian liberal arts school in New York City.

A champion for school choice, Schundler said there's bipartisan support for charter schools and merit pay for teachers despite opposition from the the New Jersey Education Association.

"We are at the moment in history ... when politicians on both sides of the aisle are willing to make changes that will make a difference in the lives of our students," he said.

Rev. Reginald Jackson, executive director of the New Jersey Black Ministers Council, is backing Schundler's nomination.

"It looks good in terms of reforming public schools and implementing school choice," he said. "And I don't think you can have one without the other."

Bob Martin, the nominee to lead the Department of Environmental Protection, advised Christie on energy and environmental policy during the campaign after retiring from the consulting firm Accenture.

Full Star-Ledger coverage of the N.J. Governor-elect Chris Christie transition

"We need to change and transform the DEP," Martin said. "We need to make it better."

David Brogan, vice president for environmental policy at the New Jersey Business & Industry Association, said he’s encouraged by Christie’s choice for DEP commissioner.

"We want to see more of a balance between economic growth and environmental protection," he said. "Up until now, that’s been lip service."

Jeff Tittel, director of the New Jersey chapter of the Sierra Club, said he’s concerned that "streamlining" the department could result in weaker regulations. He also pointed out that Martin lacks a background in government regulations.

"We know he will be good at running the department," he said. "The question for us is, where does he stand on the major issues?"

Both nominations must be confirmed by the state Senate.

Counting today's announcement, Christie has named six of his 22 cabinet members so far.

By Chris Megerian and Claire Heininger/Statehouse

Christie picks Bret Schundler as education commissioner

Source: Bret Schundler NJ ed commish

— School choice proponent Bret Schundler is Gov.-elect Chris Christie's pick to serve as New Jersey's education commissioner.

Christie on Wednesday also nominated Bob Martin, a recently retired utility and
energy consultant, to lead the Department of Environmental Protection.

Schundler has taken on national and state teachers unions in the past. Like the
incoming governor, he is a proponent of giving parents more choices on where to send their children to school.

The former Jersey City mayor launched an unsuccessful bid for the Republican
nomination for governor in 2005. Martin ran unsuccessfully in 2007 for state Senate from Mercer County.

The nominations must be confirmed by the state Senate.