WEST WINDSOR — In a move certain to only increase speculation about Gov. Chris Christie’s political future beyond New Jersey, the Republican State Committee tonight elected Bill Palatucci, a close Christie friend, advisor and former law partner, as the state’s new male representative on the Republican National Committee. Palatucci, 52, replaces David Norcross, a former Republican State Committee chairman...
Gov. Chris Christie and Lt. Gov. Kim Guadagno traveled to a dairy farm for a press conference on the 2 percent property tax cap.WEST WINDSOR — In a move certain to only increase speculation about Gov. Chris Christie’s political future beyond New Jersey, the Republican State Committee tonight elected Bill Palatucci, a close Christie friend, advisor and former law partner, as the state’s new male representative on the Republican National Committee.
Palatucci, 52, replaces David Norcross, a former Republican State Committee chairman and 1976 U.S. Senate candidate who was elected committeeman in 1992.
“I think in a small way I can just be the eyes and ears, not only for (Christie) but for the state party. Secondly, it’s nice to be able to be proud for New Jersey again and help export the ideas that are proving so successful right now in New Jersey down to the national scene,” said Palatucci.
Palatucci denied speculation that Norcross, whose term does not end until 2012, was pressured to resign by Christie to make way for a close ally.
“I think that’s unfair to David. David has been very clear that he was in his last term and he was always looking for the right time to step aside,” he said.
Twenty-three of the state’s 42 Republican committee members showed up at the meeting at the Princeton Hyatt to vote for Palatucci by affirmation. Nobody else ran for the position and Norcross did not attend the meeting.
David Norcross, in this 2004 file photo.Palatucci is senior vice president and general counsel for Community Education Centers in West Caldwell, which operates halfway houses for the reintegration of former prison inmates.
The seat gives Palatucci, already a well-known behind-the-scenes Republican player, convenient access to national Republican figures who have lately been enthralled with his November victory over Gov. Jon Corzine in a blue state and his passage of a tough budget through a Legislature controlled by Democrats. But Palatucci said it’s not about Christie’s ambition.
“I think it’s more about ideas and policy than it is about any personal agendas of his or anybody else’s,” he said.
The official duties of a national committeeman include casting votes to select the party’s chairman, bylaws and resolutions. The state also has a national committeewoman: Virginia “Ginny” Haines, a former state lottery commissioner.
Christie has said flat out he will not run for president or vice-president in 2012, telling reporters in April he has "absolutely no interest in running for president of the United States. None. Zero interest. Zero. None. Close the door. No chance. No way. Under no circumstances. I don't know any other way I could put it. No hope, don't try to talk me into it, nothing. Forget it. I'm staying here."
Palatucci, who takes the position on August 15, reserved judgment on Republican National Committee Chairman Michael Steele, whose recent gaffe on the war in Afghanistan has caused several prominent Republicans to call for his resignation.