TRENTON — A state Senate panel approved the nomination of former U.S. Rep. Michael Ferguson to the New Jersey Sports and Exposition Authority, a year after Gov. Chris Christie first submitted the nomination. If approved by the full Senate, Ferguson, 40, is likely to become the new chairman of the sports authority, in charge of implementing Christie’s overhaul plans...
Former U.S. Rep. Mike Ferguson listens as he is questioned by Sen. Loreta Weinberg (D-Bergen) about the stalled Xanadu project in the Meadowlands as Ferguson testifies before the Senate Judiciary Committee at the State House this afternoon. The committee approved his nomination to be the new commissioner of the New Jersey Sports and Exhibition Authority.TRENTON — A state Senate panel approved the nomination of former U.S. Rep. Michael Ferguson to the New Jersey Sports and Exposition Authority, a year after Gov. Chris Christie first submitted the nomination.
If approved by the full Senate, Ferguson, 40, is likely to become the new chairman of the sports authority, in charge of implementing Christie’s overhaul plans for that agency.
"We’re obviously pleased that the Judiciary Committee moved this nomination and urge them to move the huge volume of stalled nominations that have thus far been obstructed," said Kevin Roberts, a Christie spokesman.
The nomination had been stalled after Democratic senators placed a hold on it. Christie’s other nominees for the sports authority, George Kolber of Monmouth County and Robert Yudin, a Bergen County Republican, did not get a hearing today.
Christie has envisioned a smaller role for the agency now that it’s been losing revenue. It no longer manages the former Giants Stadium. The IZOD Center has lost the Nets and the Devils. The Meadowlands no longer hosts professional soccer matches.
Legislators at the hearing expressed concerns about the fate of those venues and the industry overall. Sen. Jennifer Beck (R-Monmouth) was worried about the horse racing in the state, which has been in decline. Sen. Loretta Weinberg (D-Bergen) urged Ferguson to seek details about negotiations on Xanadu, the stalled retail and entertainment complex.
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