Christie Again Nominates Kelly For Plum State Job, After Failed First Attempt

Gov. Chris Christie isn't giving up in his quest to procure a seat on the state Parole Board for longtime Republican Freeholder John P. Kelly.

Christie has nominated Kelly for the $100,000 job for a second time, according to app.com.

Ocean County Republican Chairman George R. Gilmore said Christie's office informed him Monday night that Kelly's name would be submitted to the state Senate Judiciary Committee.

The move failed earlier this year, when the 2014-2015 legislative session expired before Kelly and other nominees could have a hearing.

Union County State Senator Raymond Lesniak - a member of the Judiciary Committee - called for a freeze on parole board appointments. Lesniak said that Kelly has been appointed to high-salary patronage positions before and questioned Kelly's qualifications.

Kelly has no official law enforcement or criminal justice education and no college degree. He previously was appointed another patronage job as an "airport analyst" at the Atlantic City International Airport in 1999. The job description called for an undergraduate degree and five years experience in aviation. Kelly had neither. He made $327,000 during his five-year stint and doubled his pension.

Gilmore said if appointed after Senate confirmation, Kelly would resign from the all-Republican freeholder board, where he is a candidate for re-election this year. Kelly has been a freeholder since 1993.

The six-year term on the Parole Board would give Kelly, 64, an annual base salary of more than $100,000 and help boost his state pension before he retires. Kelly receives an annual stipend of $30,000 for the part-time freeholder job.

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Photo credit: Ocean County Government website.