Governor sticks close to home to fill his Cabinet Acting chiefs get education, corrections posts Wednesday, July 12, 2006 • BY DUNSTAN McNICHOL • Star-Ledger Staff After conducting national searches for commissioners to head the state's Departments of Education and Corrections, Gov. Jon Corzine yesterday awarded the Cabinet posts to the people who were already holding the jobs. In a surprise announcement made shortly before he left for vacation yesterday, Corzine said he will retain acting Corrections Commissioner George Hayman and acting Education Commissioner Lucille Davy as leaders of their departments. "Now, don't mess around," Corzine joked as he introduced the two at a crowded press conference in a Statehouse office building yesterday. "No 'acting.' Get it done." Hayman, a 23-year veteran of the Corrections Department from Willingboro, was serving as assistant commissioner for operations when Corzine tapped him to become acting commissioner in January. Davy, of Pennington, served as special counsel for education policy to Govs. James E. McGreevey and Richard Codey. She has served as acting education commissioner since September. Yesterday Corzine called Davy "one of the most passionate people I have ever worked with. "She is a tireless professional in public education," he said. "I feel like I'm dealing with the PTA every time I sit down with her." Davy is taking over the department as lawmakers begin a concerted push to overhaul the way the state hands out the $10.4 billion in public education aid it dispenses each year. As acting commissioner, she has advocated a new school funding formula that more closely tracks actual student needs than the current formula does. Other issues include student testing and teacher development. Corzine said the nationwide search for a commissioner was hampered by limits on what the state can pay its Cabinet officers, who each currently make $141,000. "There are probably 100 superintendents of education at the local level who get paid more than the commissioner of education does," said Corzine. "You're asking people to take a great sacrifice." That said, the governor added that Davy was always among the favorites for the permanent post, and said she had impressed him during interviews. "She was always one of the individuals who was at the top of the list," he said. "She's done an outstanding job." The Corrections Department operates state prisons and correctional facilities and is responsible for more than 27,000 offenders in custody. Corzine praised the job Hayman has done since January. "I see a man who has great strength," said Corzine. "But he also has compassion, (is) committed to making sure that one visit to corrections is all a person needs in life." Both new commissioners got warm welcomes from constituent groups. "We're looking forward to having a new commissioner and actually getting some work done and straightening out some of the little problems with the department," said Tom Moran, president of the New Jersey Law Enforcement Supervisors Association, who served on the committee that helps look for a new commissioner. "We wanted someone who could hit the ground running." Lynne Strickland, executive director of the Garden State Coalition of Schools, said she has appreciated Davy's accessibility over the past several months. "We hope she will be given the latitude to listen to diverse and competing needs," she said. Both nominations now advance to the state Senate, which can approve or reject them. Staff writer Rick Hepp contributed to this report. © 2006 The Star-Ledger. Used by NJ.com with permission.