NEW YORK — Christopher Ward said he is “absolutely delighted” to remain executive director of the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey under Gov. Andrew Cuomo of New York. “I am absolutely delighted, thrilled that I’ll have a chance to continue in the job,” Ward said. “I’m the luckiest guy in town, and I have about the...
File photos of N.Y. Gov. Andrew Cuomo (AP Photo/Mike Groll) and N.J. Gov. Chris Christie (Frank H. Conlon/For The Star-Ledger)NEW YORK — Christopher Ward said he is “absolutely delighted” to remain executive director of the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey under Gov. Andrew Cuomo of New York.
“I am absolutely delighted, thrilled that I’ll have a chance to continue in the job,” Ward said. “I’m the luckiest guy in town, and I have about the best job you could possibly have. I’m delighted.”
Speaking during a break in a Manhattan conference on the region’s airports today, Ward made his public comments on the subject sources revealed earlier in the week that Cuomo would keep him in the $304,000 position. Traditionally, the governor of New York names the bi-state agency’s executive director, while New Jersey’s governor names the agency’s chairman.
On Tuesday, the State Senate approved Gov. Chris Christie’s choice for chairman, former New Jersey Attorney General David Samson. Samson has been meeting with Ward and other officials at the agency to get up to speed on agency business, and the two will attend their first board meeting together on Feb. 3.
“I look forward to working with David,” Ward said of the new chairman.
Pressing projects for the agency include the raising of the Bayonne Bridge roadbed, and redevelopment of the World Trade Center site, particularly completion of the National Sept. 11 Memorial in time for the 10th anniversary of the 9/11 attacks.
“I think this is going to be a good year for the Port Authority,” Ward said. “I think the new chairman sees the work ahead of us, and his sense of purpose and commitment to the Port Authority. I think it’s going to be a good year of stability in terms of my tenure, his tenure and two governors firmly in place politically within the region. So that’s the right mix for getting things done.”
Previous coverage:
• Port Authority must improve rail system, officials say
• Port Authority head to remain in post under N.Y. Gov. Andrew Cuomo
• New York Gov. Cuomo reappoints heads of MTA, Port Authority