New Jersey Department of the Public Advocate
Encyclopedia
The New Jersey
Department of the Public Advocate
was a department within the Executive branch of the government of New Jersey
that acted as a voice on behalf of the people of the state. It was responsible to make government "more accountable and responsive to the needs of New Jersey residents" through legal advocacy, policy research and reform and community and legislative outreach.
The department was originally created in 1974 by Governor
Brendan Byrne
, The first Public Advocate was Stanley Van Ness
.
The agency was dissolved in 1994. The New Jersey Legislature
passed the Public Advocate Restoration Act in 2005, which was signed into law on July 12, 2005, by Governor Richard Codey
.
In 2006, Governor Jon Corzine
appointed Ronald Chen
to serve as the first Public Advocate since the position had been abolished in 1994.
The previous Public Advocate was Zulima Farber
, who served as state Public Advocate from 1992 to 1994 in the Cabinet of former Governor James Florio
.
Wilfredo Caraballo
served as Public Advocate from 1990 to 1992, resigning in protest of Republican Party
efforts in the legislature to reduce his powers.
Upon entering office as governor in early 2010, Republican Chris Christie began considering the possible elimination of this department. On June 29, 2010, Governor Christie signed into law legislation abolishing the Department of the Public Advocate, transferring some offices and divisions to other departments, and abolishing others.
New Jersey
New Jersey is a state in the Northeastern and Middle Atlantic regions of the United States. , its population was 8,791,894. It is bordered on the north and east by the state of New York, on the southeast and south by the Atlantic Ocean, on the west by Pennsylvania and on the southwest by Delaware...
Department of the Public Advocate
Public Advocate
Public Advocate is a governmental position similar to an ombudsman. Depending on the jurisdiction it can be an elected or appointed position.-See also:* New York City Public Advocate...
was a department within the Executive branch of the government of New Jersey
Government of New Jersey
The government of New Jersey was established by the New Jersey Constitution of 1947, the current state constitution. It comprises three branches: the executive, headed by the Governor of New Jersey; the legislative ; and judicial, headed by the New Jersey Supreme Court.- New Jersey State...
that acted as a voice on behalf of the people of the state. It was responsible to make government "more accountable and responsive to the needs of New Jersey residents" through legal advocacy, policy research and reform and community and legislative outreach.
The department was originally created in 1974 by Governor
Governor of New Jersey
The Office of the Governor of New Jersey is the executive branch for the U.S. state of New Jersey. The office of Governor is an elected position, for which elected officials serve four year terms. While individual politicians may serve as many terms as they can be elected to, Governors cannot be...
Brendan Byrne
Brendan Byrne
Brendan Thomas Byrne is an American Democratic Party politician from New Jersey, who served as the 47th Governor of New Jersey, from 1974 to 1982.-Early life and education:...
, The first Public Advocate was Stanley Van Ness
Stanley Van Ness
Stanley Stanley Van Ness was an American jurist who worked for a number of state agencies in New Jersey, USA. Most notably, he led the New Jersey Department of the Public Advocate as the first Public Advocate in New Jersey and the United States...
.
The agency was dissolved in 1994. The New Jersey Legislature
New Jersey Legislature
The New Jersey Legislature is the legislative branch of the government of the U.S. state of New Jersey. In its current form, as defined by the New Jersey Constitution of 1947, the Legislature consists of two houses: the General Assembly and the Senate...
passed the Public Advocate Restoration Act in 2005, which was signed into law on July 12, 2005, by Governor Richard Codey
Richard Codey
Richard James Codey is an American Democratic Party politician who served as the 53rd Governor of New Jersey from November 2004 to January 2006. He has served in the New Jersey Senate since 1981 and served as the President of the Senate from 2002 to January 2010. He represents the 27th Legislative...
.
In 2006, Governor Jon Corzine
Jon Corzine
Jon Stevens Corzine is the former CEO of Goldman Sachs and of MF Global, and a one time American politician, who served as the 54th Governor of New Jersey from 2006 to 2010. A Democrat, Corzine served five years of a six-year U.S. Senate term representing New Jersey before being elected Governor...
appointed Ronald Chen
Ronald Chen
Ronald Chen was, until January 2010, the New Jersey Public Advocate. He was nominated to fill the position on January 5, 2006, by Governor of New Jersey Jon Corzine. He was the first Public Advocate to serve in the post since 1994, when the job was abolished by former Governor Christine Todd Whitman...
to serve as the first Public Advocate since the position had been abolished in 1994.
The previous Public Advocate was Zulima Farber
Zulima Farber
Zulima Farber is the former Attorney General of New Jersey and the first Latina to serve as Acting Governor of New Jersey. She was appointed to the position in 2006 by Governor Jon Corzine...
, who served as state Public Advocate from 1992 to 1994 in the Cabinet of former Governor James Florio
James Florio
James Joseph "Jim" Florio is a Democratic politician who served as the 49th Governor of New Jersey from 1990 to 1994, the first Italian American to hold the position...
.
Wilfredo Caraballo
Wilfredo Caraballo
Wilfredo Caraballo is an American Democratic Party politician, who served in the New Jersey General Assembly from 1996-2008, where he represented the 29th legislative district...
served as Public Advocate from 1990 to 1992, resigning in protest of Republican Party
Republican Party (United States)
The Republican Party is one of the two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Democratic Party. Founded by anti-slavery expansion activists in 1854, it is often called the GOP . The party's platform generally reflects American conservatism in the U.S...
efforts in the legislature to reduce his powers.
Upon entering office as governor in early 2010, Republican Chris Christie began considering the possible elimination of this department. On June 29, 2010, Governor Christie signed into law legislation abolishing the Department of the Public Advocate, transferring some offices and divisions to other departments, and abolishing others.