Courier Article on Announcement- Great News!

Corzine wants to extend state oversight of Camden

By ALAN GUENTHER
Courier-Post Staff

CAMDEN
Camden should continue to have an all-powerful, state-appointed chief operating officer for another five years, Gov. Jon S. Corzine announced Wednesday afternoon.

The city's current chief operating officer, Randy Primas, has resigned from the position and will leave office on Nov. 30. Corzine said he will appoint an interim chief in the next few days. He also named a 14-member committee to conduct a national search for a new chief operating officer. The search will be led by Corzine's deputy chief of staff, Jeannine LaRue, a former Winslow Township councilwoman who was born in Camden.

For the past four years, Camden has been the only city in America operating under a state takeover of the local government.

Reactions to Corzine's decision to extend the chief operating officer's czar-like power were mixed.

City Council President Angel Fuentes said he supported the governor and said he hoped to work closely with Corzine to aid the city's recovery. But Councilman Gilbert "Whip" Wilson said he thought a fiscal monitor could get the job done with control of the government returned to its elected representatives.

Jeffrey Brenner, a Camden physician and community activist, was "absolutely delighted" by Corzine's announcement. Brenner, who has a Web site called www.timeforchangeincamden.org, said, "The poorest city in America deserves national-level talent to help turn around its problems."

Olga Pomar of South Jersey Legal Services was disappointed. She thought too much power was given to Primas, who can veto the actions of the City Council and every city board and agency.

"There are more effective ways of having fiscal oversight," she said, "that does not place all the power in the hands of one person who is not accountable to the residents."

As an attorney for South Jersey Legal Services, Pomar represents 211 city residents fighting the massive Cramer Hill redevelopment plan.

During Primas's four years in his $175,000-a-year job, four massive redevelopment plans were proposed, but they have been stalled by procedural errors and community opposition.

Under current law, Primas's powers would be transferred to 81-year-old Camden Mayor Gwendolyn Faison in July 2007. Corzine wants to avoid that; he would keep an all-powerful chief operating officer in charge of the city until 2012.

Primas and Faison could not be reached for comment.

Reach Alan Guenther at (856) 317-7871 or aguenther@courierpostonline.com
Published: November 22. 2006 8:06PM