by Nikita Biryukov, New Jersey Monitor
Gov. Phil Murphy announced Friday that he will appoint George Helmy, his former chief of staff, to Sen. Bob Menendez’s seat in the upper chamber after the criminally convicted lawmaker steps down later this month.
Helmy, who was the top staffer in Murphy’s administration for five years before departing in September to become chief external affairs and policy officer at RWJBarnabas Health Medical Group, is expected to ascend to the seat after Menendez resigns, as the three-term Democrat is expected to do on Aug. 20.
“He has devoted years of his life to untangling the red tape of government to help New Jerseyans access the benefits and resources they deserve. From helping veterans to get the health care they need to assisting senior citizens who depend on Social Security and everything in between, George knows how to navigate the complexities of government and make life easier for our families,” Murphy said at the announcement in Newark.
State law allows Helmy, a commissioner of the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, to serve until the Board of State Canvassers certifies a general election victor on Nov. 20. Murphy said Friday that he intends to appoint the election’s victor to the seat after one is certified, giving them a weeks-long advantage in Senate seniority over their newly elected peers.
“I have never, nor will I ever, seek elected office. As a matter of fact as the governor alluded to, the idea of being called ‘senator’ bothers me deeply,” Helmy said. “But our residents deserve a functioning Senate office upon which they can call for help. Our nonprofits and local governments deserve an office that will fight for them for their grants and support them in navigating the arcane maze of federal agencies.”
Menendez last month announced he would resign after he was found guilty in July of bribery and other corruption charges following a lengthy trial that saw him accused of trading official favors for gold bars, cash, furniture, and a Mercedes-Benz convertible, among other things.
The governor’s decision aligns with Republican calls for him to appoint a caretaker to the seat rather than a candidate.
“George Helmy is not only a trusted and well-respected leader, he’s also a proven public servant who I consider a good friend and an even better man,” said Senate Minority Leader Tony Bucco (R-Morris). “I applaud the Governor’s decision to follow the tradition of appointing a placeholder and letting the voters have their say this November.”
Rep. Andy Kim (D-Burlington) and hotelier Curtis Bashaw will vie for the Senate seat in November, and Kim is heavily favored to win that race. Republicans have not won a U.S. Senate race in New Jersey since the state reelected Sen. Clifford Case in 1972.
The New Jersey Globe first reported Murphy’s intent to appoint Helmy to the Senate.
Sen. Cory Booker, a Democrat who will become the state’s senior senator when Menendez retires, praised the pick in advance of Friday’s announcement. Helmy was previously Booker’s state director and an aide to late Sen. Frank Lautenberg.
“He’s going to be able to hit the ground running and be an impact player in the United States Senate. So I’m thrilled with the choice,” Booker said at an unrelated event Thursday.
By passing over Kim, who faced a bitter primary against first lady Tammy Murphy before she suspended her campaign ahead of June’s primary, Murphy will avert the need for a second special House election this year.
“Having led Senator Booker’s state operations for a number of years, George Helmy knows how to navigate the Senate and can step in immediately to keep delivering services for our state,” Kim said in a statement Friday. “That’s incredibly important experience with so many challenging issues facing our state and our nation. I look forward to working with him in the Capitol.”
Tammy Murphy in July said she would not accept an appointment to the Senate seat.
Voters in New Jersey’s 10th congressional district will choose a successor to late Rep. Donald Payne Jr. (D-Newark) on Sept. 18.
Kim would have been required to cede his House seat to ascend to the upper chamber, though that departure would not necessarily have triggered a special election. State law only mandates the governor call a special election for a House vacancy if more than six months are left in the lawmaker’s unexpired term.