Governor-elect Mikie Sherrill Announces First Phase of Innovative Transition Committees with Action Teams
Governor-elect Mikie Sherrill today announced an ambitious and collaborative initiative to chart a bold course for New Jersey’s future and ensure the Governor-elect’s commitment to hit the ground running on Day One priorities. The first phase of this initiative is comprised of ten Action Teams to be led by New Jersey and national experts. They include members with diverse and distinguished experience and were developed with input from experts in the state and across the country.
“We’re bringing together experts and everyday New Jerseyans alike on a mission to deliver — by driving down costs starting with electric bills, improving state services and accountability, and protecting our kids. These teams will embody the spirit of collaboration, creativity, and action that New Jerseyans expect from their next governor,” said Governor-elect Mikie Sherrill. “I want to thank all of the volunteers investing their time to ensure my administration can hit the ground running when we take office in January.”
“Mikie Sherrill was elected with a mandate to lower costs and these action teams are getting right to work to help us hit the ground running on Day One,” said Lieutenant Governor-elect and Transition Chair Dale Caldwell. “We are grateful to everyone stepping up and lending their expertise and I look forward to working with them as we fight to make a real difference for the people of New Jersey.”
The transition’s policy process will consist of three key components: 1) the Action Teams being announced today 2) an Interdisciplinary Advisory Task Force to be announced soon and 3) Public Engagement through a survey for the people of New Jersey. Governor-elect Sherrill’s approach to transition policy marks a different kind of leadership in Trenton — one grounded in collaboration between government and a diverse array of sectors, a “get to yes” mentality, and a relentless focus on affordability and the cost of living. In addition to these three components, the transition will seek formal input from local elected officials, and stakeholders across industry and nonprofit sectors, such as leaders in higher education, hospital systems, small businesses, and those working on the ground on housing and food insecurity. The Action Teams will consider all of the feedback and provide recommendations to Governor-elect Sherrill on enacting her agenda, with a focus on how we can all come together as New Jerseyans to lower costs and tackle the challenges and opportunities ahead of us.
Action Teams
These expert-driven action teams – with co-chairs and full membership included below – will focus on the top priorities of the incoming administration, including:
- Making Energy More Affordable and Reliable
- Saving You Time and Money: Getting Government to Work for New Jerseyans
- Kids Mental Health and Online Safety
- Lowering Housing Costs and Expanding Homeownership
- Transportation and Infrastructure Innovation
- Fiscal Responsibility and Government Accountability
- Delivering a Strong Education for New Jersey Children
- Jobs, Opportunity, and Prosperity for All
- Affordable Healthcare: Addressing Washington’s Medicaid Cuts
- Driving New Jersey Forward: Economic Development and Innovation
This The Action Teams will meet regularly to address well-defined questions and engage directly with key stakeholders — from small businesses and commuter roundtables, to conversations with parents and students.
Interdisciplinary Advisory Task Force
An Interdisciplinary Advisory Task Force will bring together voices from across New Jersey — representing labor, business, veterans, the environment, healthcare, education, and more. This diverse group will provide input to the Governor-elect and the Action Teams through multiple engagement opportunities, bringing a broader perspective to each of the priority areas above. As we tackle these big issues, we need to understand how they impact every corner of our community and the Advisory Task Force will bring representatives from across New Jersey to the table to work together to solve them.
Public Engagement
The Governor-elect will soon invite direct public participation through a statewide Transition Survey. New Jersey residents will be encouraged to share their ideas and priorities for the next administration.
FULL POLICY ACTION TEAMS, CO-CHAIRS, AND MEMBERS
| Making Energy More Affordable and Reliable
Allison Clements, Co-Chair Secretary Jennifer Granholm, Co-Chair Stefanie Brand Bhavini Doshi Joe Egan Christina Farrell Lisa Garcia Mike Hellstrom Monica Martinez Ari Matusiak Allison McLeod Katie Mettle Babatunde Odubekun Tim Profeta Maria Robinson Shaun Sullivan Anjuli Ramos Busot
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Kids Mental Health and Online Safety
Kathryn Edin, Co-Chair Rishi Bharwani, Co-Chair Julie Borst Rose Brown Luis Diaz Ebony Grace Ramon Hache Leslie Huhn Katie Katz Shilpa Kulkarni Dominique Lee Amy Lombardo Joann McEniry Rev. Danté Quick Adam Renteria Laura Fenster Rothschild Dr. Aakash Shah Ameer Washington
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| Saving You Time and Money: Getting Government to Work for New Jerseyans
Lt. Governor-elect Dale Caldwell, Co-Chair Tatjana Kunz, Co-Chair Amar Bhardwaj John G. Donnadio Michael Drulis Chris Emigholz Priya Narasimhan Dr. Randal Pinkett Lilia Rios Thomas Russomano Esther Suarez Evan Weiss Nina Wells Jerry Zaro Maurice Zekaria
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Transportation and Infrastructure Innovation
John D. Porcari, Co-Chair Jean Roehrenbeck, Co-Chair Zoe Baldwin Tiffany Bohlin Samuel Delgado Eileen Della Volle Samuel Donelson Cedrick Fulton Brett Harwood Robert Hickman Bob Medina Ron Sabol Mike Sweeney Ray Vigil
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| Lowering Housing Costs and Expanding Homeownership
Julia Gordon, Co-Chair Lopa Kolluri, Co-Chair Baye Adofo-Wilson Catherine Best Mike Cerra Mike DuHaime Christiana Foglio Ronald Glover Danny Gonzalez-Bosques Adam Gordon Ryan Haygood Diane Johnson Jim Johnson Taiisa Kelly AJ Luna Bill Matsikoudis Chang Suh Sarah Rosen Wartell Andre Williams
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Fiscal Responsibility and Government Accountability
Justin Dews, Co-Chair Eddie Donnelly, Co-Chair Luis Alamo Kathleen Frangione Bob Garrenger Tonya Hodges Mina Hsiang Everett M. Johnson Sohail Khan Deena Leary Mark Magyar Andrea Martinez-Mejia Heather Pierce Mike Ranger Don Travisano Elizabeth Wilkins
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| Delivering a Strong Education for New Jersey Children
Bette Simmons, Co-Chair Meghan Tavormina, Co-Chair Steve Beatty Karen Bingert Lisa Feinstein Alexandra Figueras-Daniel Jen Higgins Bob Kim Harry Lee Thomas Macagnano Gillian Ober Tahina Perez Jonathan Pushman Ramon Rivera Peter Rosario Dr. Connie Sanchez Colleen Schulz-Eskow Winifred Smith-Jenkins Paula White
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Jobs, Opportunity, and Prosperity for All
Patricia Campos Medina, Co-Chair Carl Van Horn, Co-Chair Aymen Aboushi Julio Aponte Carmen Cusido Rev. Eric Dobson Morganne Dudzinski Barbara George Johnson Kiran Handa Gaudioso Maria Heidkamp Ana Maria Hill Janelle Jones Dee C. Marshall Evelyn McGee Colbert Luz Mendez Ayo Sanderson Wilson Amol Sinha William Sproule Charles Wowkanech
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| Affordable Healthcare: Addressing Washington’s Medicaid Cuts
Chiquita Brooks-LaSure, Co-Chair Heather Howard, Co-Chair Kathy Ahearn-O’Brien Phil Bak Catherine Bennett Rosalee Boyer Bill Colgan Carmine Deo Danny Gonzalez-Bosques Dr. Jessica Israel Raquel Mazon Jeffers Cory Neering Javier Robles Magda Schaler-Haynes Linda Schwimmer Dr. Stephanie Silvera Steven Tully Eva Turbiner
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Driving New Jersey Forward: Economic Development and Innovation
Secretary Gina Raimondo, Co-Chair Ralph W. Tejeda, Co-Chair Hazel Applewhite Jimmy Bellas Chrissy Buteas Jeff Cantor Elisa Charters Lucy Del Gaudio Anna Dulencin Mike Egenton Celeste Fernandez Debbie Hart Don Katz John W. Kennedy Lloyd D. Levenson Diana Rogers Vaishant Sharma Lori Wood Montague |
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