A look at just some of the best of the rest

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It’s the first question people have after reading our Power 100: “Who was No. 101?”
If only it were that easy.

We talk to a lot of movers and shakers in the state to get their thoughts. So when we’re done, there are plenty of names left over.

With that in mind, we thought we’d share some (not all, just some) of the people who were suggested and the rationale behind them.

We’ll let you decide if we made all the right calls.

Here’s the list in alphabetical order:

Ray Chambers (philanthropist): “Because of his role chairing the governor’s committee on the pension program and how to overhaul it. He’s still a dominant figure in New Jersey and Newark. And he’s curing malaria. Literally. He’s chairing the U.N. commission eradicating malaria and they’ve made such great strides.”

Dan Geltrude (Geltrude & Co. LLC): “He has a relatively small accounting firm in Nutley and, surprisingly, he has some major clients (Hartz Mountain Industries, Federal Business Centers). So he’s under the radar as a guy you guys would never have thought of.” We’re told he’s a terrific fundraiser, too.

John Hoffman (attorney general): “I think his advice and counsel, certainly on legal issues, but even on secondary political issues (like how to handle the crime problem in Camden and Newark and Paterson) — I think Hoffman has a role to play. I think he is a more formidable presence than his modest demeanor would suggest.”

Stephen Holmes (Wyndham Worldwide): “That’s a big company and he’s positioning it to be prominent.”

Steve Kornacki, Michael Aron, Paul Mulshine, Tom Moran (journalists): “If the governor runs for president, the national media is going to be looking for their New Jersey sources to get the scoop on this guy.” All four were recommended in one way or another for this role. Mulshine for an additional reason: “I just find him so hysterical.”

Susan McCue (politics): The former chief of staff for Harry Reid is a new member of Rutgers Board of Governors. And though she lives out of state, she’ll have impact. “She’ll be running the Assembly PACs. She’s going to be the person behind the scenes in New Jersey running the Assembly campaigns for Democrats.”