NJ Chamber to honor Persichilli, Hagaman and 5 state lawmakers

The New Jersey Chamber of Commerce is slated to award five state lawmakers as “Legislator of the Year”—two Republicans and three Democrats.

That’s on top of a separate award – “Business Advocate of the Year” – for New Jersey Health Commissioner Judith Persichilli and WithumSmith+Brown Chief Executive Officer William Hagaman.

“The honorees were selected primarily because each has taken substantive action to help New Jersey’s economy persevere through one of the most difficult times in modern history,” New Jersey Chamber CEO Tom Bracken said in an Oct. 18 announcement.

“Each has been proactive in their support for employers and employees, particularly in a time when there is no blueprint for action,” he added.

The awards will be presented on Oct. 20 at Bell Works in Holmdel at 5:30 p.m.

Winner’s circle

Persichilli spearheaded the state’s COVID-19 response over the past 19 months along with Gov. Phil Murphy, thrusting her into a highly publicized spotlight.

Murphy first announced Persichilli as the state’s next health commissioner in June 2019, having her essentially swap places with Dr. Shereef Elnahal, who left his post as health commissioner to become University Hospital’s chief executive officer.

“With the help of her leadership, the economy was able to safely reopen,” the NJ Chamber said.

Hagaman currently sits on the NJ Chamber’s board of directors, and through the accounting giant’s virtual platform has provided “information webinars for members of the business community struggling during the pandemic.”

All 120 members of the Democrat-controlled state Legislature are running to keep their seats, as is Gov. Phil Murphy, in the Nov. 2 election.

The two Republicans being recognized are state Sen. Michael Testa, R-1st District, and Assemblyman Chris DePhillips, R-40th District.

Testa played a lead role in GOP-led opposition in court last year to the Murphy administration’s plans to borrow more than $4 billion in debt to plug COVID-blown holes in the state budget. That effort ultimately failed in the state Supreme Court, but soaring state revenues have raised doubts about whether the state needed to borrow those funds in the first place.

The three state Democrats receiving the award are: State Sen. Vin Gopal, D-11th District, Senate Education Chair Teresa Ruiz, D-29th District, and Assemblyman Roy Freiman, D-16th district.

Gopal’s sponsorship of a bill letting teens work up to 50 hours a week during the summer, in response to the months of hiring shortages, was particularly helpful, the NJ Chamber said.

Ruiz’s sponsorship of the New Jersey Economic Recovery Act of 2020, which created a massive $14.5 billion state incentive program, was highlighted by the NJ Chamber, as was legislation Freiman sponsored adding $20 million of pandemic-relief to restaurants and bars.