TRENTON — Gov. Chris Christie’s choice for chairman of the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey told lawmakers today that his role will not be to mediate spending disputes between the governor and his counterpart across the Hudson, Gov. Andrew Cuomo. However, former New Jersey Attorney General David Samson said, limited Port Authority resources and sometimes competing...
Former state Attorney General David Samson has been nominated by Gov. Chris Christie to head the Port Authority.TRENTON — Gov. Chris Christie’s choice for chairman of the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey told lawmakers today that his role will not be to mediate spending disputes between the governor and his counterpart across the Hudson, Gov. Andrew Cuomo.
However, former New Jersey Attorney General David Samson said, limited Port Authority resources and sometimes competing demands between the two states means he and fellow commissioners will have to balance how the agency spends the billions of dollars a year it collects in tolls, rents, landing fees and other revenue.
"I wouldn’t aspire to be a mediator between Gov. Christie and anybody else," Samson said in response to a question from Senate Judiciary Committee member Sen. Christopher Bateman (R-Somerset), drawing grins with the reference to Christie’s bulldog-like reputation for standing his ground.
But, Samson added, "Obviously, the board has to make decisions that are reflective of the interests and policy goals of the leaders of each state."
The Judiciary Committee and the full Senate unanimously approved Samson’s nomination today. Samson, who said he expects to be sworn in at the Port Authority’s Feb. 3 meeting, will replace Anthony Coscia, who will maintain his seat on the board.
Like Coscia, Samson has worked for both Democrats and Republicans. He served as attorney general from 2002 to 2003 under Democratic Gov. Jim McGreevey and chaired Christie’s transition team after the Republican was elected in November 2009. Christie nominated Samson for the Port Authority post in October.
Under a long-standing tradition, the governor of New Jersey names the chairman of the bistate agency and the governor of New York names the executive director. On Monday, officials confirmed Cuomo would retain Christopher Ward as executive director.
Christie declined to say today what instructions or list of priorities he had given Samson.
"That’s between me and Mr. Samson," he said.
As chairman, the 71-year-old Samson will lead the board in setting policy and approving spending at the agency, which has a $7.2 billion annual budget and 6,777 employees. The agency owns and operates the region’s shipping ports, its three major airports, trans-Hudson bridges, tunnels and PATH trains, and various pieces of real estate, including the World Trade Center complex.
He takes over as chairman as the agency is in the midst of several costly projects, including redevelopment of the World Trade Center site, raising the Bayonne Bridge roadbed and replacing the Goethals Bridge — all as revenues are down due to the sluggish economy.
During today's committee hearing, Samson said he supported Christie’s decision last fall to kill the ARC trans-Hudson commuter rail tunnel.
He did not say, however, whether he supports the governor’s plan to use $1.8 billion in Port Authority funds originally earmarked for the tunnel to overhaul the Pulaski Skyway and other New Jersey roads. Some believe the plan will open the way for Cuomo to seek Port Authority dollars for non-Port Authority projects in New York.
"There’s going to be competition for dollars," Samson said. "Those negotiations are going to have to be worked out between the governors."