TRENTON - In light of President-elect Obama's appointment of Lisa Jackson to head the U.S. Environmental Protecton Agency, Gov. Jon Corzine acted quickly to replace Jackson with Chief Counsel Edward J. McBride Jr. as his chief of staff. McBride is expected to assume his new responsibilities immediately.

"When it comes to selecting a steward of the nation's environmental treasures, President-elect Obama could not have made a better choice than Lisa Jackson," Corzine commented on Jackson's nomination.

McBride will now manage the day-to-day operations of the Governor's Office and has served as chief counsel to Corzine since February 2008 and served as deputy chief counsel the previous two years. William J. Castner Jr. will now serve as chief counsel.

Other Corzine appointments:

• Diane Legreide as deputy chief of staff
• Michellene Davis as chief policy counsel
• Albert J. Alvarez as deputy chief of staff
• Jaimee Gilmartin as director of operations
• Josh Zeitz as senior policy advisor

- Trentonian Online News Team