TRENTON — Gov. Chris Christie today announced he would nominate a former state attorney general who helped lead his transition team to be chairman of the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey. The nomination of David Samson, who served as attorney general for former Gov. Jim McGreevey, must be confirmed by the state Senate. Samson says the...
Former state Attorney General David Samson has been nominated by Gov. Chris Christie to head the Port Authority.TRENTON — Gov. Chris Christie today announced he would nominate a former state attorney general who helped lead his transition team to be chairman of the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey.
The nomination of David Samson, who served as attorney general for former Gov. Jim McGreevey, must be confirmed by the state Senate.
Samson says the bistate agency has been a "paragon of how an independent authority charged with this type of responsibility should be run."
Christie said Samson, who is a Republican, has long been a "trusted adviser" through several administrations. Christie mentioned they jointly received a death threat from the Latin Kings in 2003, which he joked really brings people together.
"That brings you together," he said. "They threatened to kill both of us together, which was exciting."
Samson, 71, is a founding member of the high-profile law firm of Wolff & Samson. He served as attorney general from 2002-03, and was the counsel to Christie's campaign for governor. He co-chaired the governor's transition team.
Samson is one of New Jersey's best-known and most respected attorneys. He had been tapped by Christie to lead any post-election legal challenge that might have come up. Samson also was the onetime boss of Christie's chief counsel, Jeff Chiesa, who went to work for Samson after Chiesa left Christie's U.S. Attorney's office.
Ironically, Samson was a longtime close friend of former state Sen. John Lynch, the Middlesex County Democratic boss who was ultimately imprisoned after being convicted in one of Christie's most celebrated public corruption cases.
With his position on the Amtrak board now secured, Sen. Frank Lautenberg plans to put current chairman Anthony Coscia's name forward to serve as chairman of the national railroad. Coscia, an attorney and finance expert respected by both parties, was expected to serve six to 12 months into Christie's term, so today's news was on schedule.
There was no discussion of the change at today's Port Authority board meeting in Manhattan, but in a brief interview afterward Coscia said that he and Christie had talked about the change, which he supports.
Asked if the situation between him and Christie was amicable, Coscia said, "Oh yes, definitely."
Coscia will remain a member of the Port Authority board until his current term expires in July 2011.
By Lisa Fleisher and Matt Friedman/Statehouse Bureau staff
Staff writer Steve Strunsky contributed to this report.
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