KZG Wishes You a Joyous Holiday Season and a New Year Filled with Peace and Happiness!

2015 Will Bring New Faces 

to the New Jersey State Legislature

Asm. Joe Danielsen (D-17)

One of the state's Board of Public Utilities' (BPU) newest commissioners, former Asm. Upendra Chivukula (D-17), left the Assembly in September after Gov. Chris Christie appointed him to the BPU. His replacement, Asm. Joe Danielsen (D), former chairman of the Franklin Township Democratic Committee, won the support of the Democratic Committee in a special convention held on Oct. 5th. Danielsen was sworn into office on Oct. 16th and will retain the seat for the remainder of Chivukula's term. The next election for the 17th district seat, which includes parts of Somerset and Middlesex counties, will be held in November 2015.

Assemblyman Wayne DeAngelo (D-14) was picked to replace former Asm. Chivukula as chairman of the Assembly Telecommunications and Utilities Committee.

Meanwhile, with the election of the state's first African-American congresswoman to New Jersey's 12th Congressional District, State Asw. Bonnie Watson Coleman (D-15) will fill the seat vacated by the retirement of Democratic Rep. Rush Holt. She will leave her Assembly seat in the 15th legislative district behind when she is sworn in as a member of Congress in January. Several candidates have already expressed an interest in the seat, including Mercer County Freeholder Sam Frisby and Mercer County Democratic Chair Elizabeth Maher Muoio. A special Mercer County Democratic convention will be held in January to select the replacement for U.S. Rep.-elect Watson Coleman.

In Union County's elections, current undersheriff and State Asm. (D) Joseph Cryan was elected County Sheriff. Cryan, who will succeed the late Sheriff Ralph Froehlich, will have to give up his Assembly seat when he is sworn in as sheriff in January. Union County Democrats have until then to pick a candidate for Cryan's 20th district seat. Possible successors include Roselle Mayor Jamel Holley and Union Township Mayor Clifton People Jr. The Democratic choice for the seat will have to run in a primary election in the spring and then in a general election next fall.

In New Jersey's 1st Congressional District in South Jersey, State Sen. Don Norcross (D) won the seat left vacant following the resignation of Democratic Rep. Rob Andrews last February. Norcross was sworn into his new role in the U.S. House of Representatives in early December, leaving his 5th legislative district Senate seat behind. That seat, however, is no longer empty.

Sen. Nilsa Cruz-Perez (D-5)

 On Monday, Dec. 15th, Sen. Nilsa Cruz-Perez (D) was sworn in to represent the 5th legislative district, which covers parts of Camden and Gloucester counties. This won't be Cruz-Perez's first turn under the dome, however, as she previously represented the 5th legislative district in the Assembly. When she first took office in 1996, Cruz-Perez became the first Hispanic member of the State House. Cruz-Perez will hold Norcross's seat until November, when a special election for the remaining two years of the term will be held.

Democratic Asm. Celeste Riley (3), who won the Nov. 4th election to serve as Cumberland County Clerk, will resign from the Assembly next month as well, when she assumes her new role as County Clerk. Democratic officials from each county organization in the 3rd legislative district, which encompasses western Cumberland County as well as Salem and Gloucester counties, will have to agree on the selection of Riley's replacement. Asw. Riley currently chairs the Higher Education Committee.

On behalf of all of us at KZG, we congratulate all outgoing members of the New Jersey State Legislature as they embark on new chapters in their careers, and we extend a hearty welcome to those who are coming in to serve as lawmakers under the dome. Good luck and best wishes in the New Year!

For most children, the holidays usually bring about images of toys, cookies and presents under the tree, but for some - it can be a reminder of what's missing. A home.

KZG Principal Trish Zita

 Fortunately, there are organizations such as CASA (Court Appointed Special Advocates) that advocate for children removed from their families due to abuse or neglect. CASA recruits and trains community volunteers to be a "voice in court" for children removed from their homes. These advocates "speak up" for these children, helping them get the services they need and ensuring that they find safe, permanent homes.

In New Jerey, it is estimated that over 13,000 children in New Jersey have lived in out-of-home placements in 2014, and over 1,500 children in Mercer and Burlington Counties pass through the foster care system because of abuse, neglect or abandonment each year.

KZG's Trish Zita was recently appointed to the Board of Trustees of CASA of Mercer and Burlington Counties. 

Trish said this of the appointment: "I am honored to have been selected to join the Board of Trustees of CASA. CASA has an extraordinary mission and I share its commitment to make sure that children in need and in crisis are getting the services, resources and placements they need to grow and be successful."

This holiday season all of us at Kaufman Zita Group are donating to CASA and you, too, can volunteer and give a gift that can change a child's life. For more information on CASA and how you too can support the organization or become an advocate go to www.casamercer.org/.

Gov. Christie Makes a "Case" for Beer in Canada 

On Dec. 4th, Gov. Chris Christie traveled to Calgary, Canada, to discuss American foreign policy, the country's relations with Canada, and recent developments in the energy sector. During the course of these discussions, however, Gov. Christie and Alberta Premier Jim Prentice not only talked about foreign affairs and the world's energy issues - they also exchanged cases of beer!

Gov. Christie offered beer from New Jersey's oldest brewery, Flying Fish Brewing Company, a KZG client, and Prentice offered beer from Calgary-based Big Rock Brewery.

Flying Fish Brewing Company is located in Somerdale, New Jersey. In a state that once boasted 50 breweries, it is the first microbrewery in Southern New Jersey and the first new brewery built in that part of the state in more than half a century. Flying Fish is a member of the Garden State Craft Brewers Guild, which worked with KZG to advance a law that would revise restrictions on the state's microbreweries and brewpubs and create a more friendly business environment for New Jersey's craft brewing industry.

What a great way to bring countries together. Congratulations Flying Fish!