Republican Gov.-elect Chris Christie has chosen a Democrat to be New Jersey's next attorney general, according to sources. The bi-partisan nomination to the state's top law enforcement job comes as Gov. Jon Corzine defied Christie by nominating nearly 200 people to paid and unpaid government posts just over a month before leaving office.
The person confirmed the selection of Essex County Prosecutor Paula Dow on condition of anonymity because no one is authorized to speak ahead of Tuesday's announcement.
Christie is due to announce Dow as his first cabinet appointment at a noon news conference. Dow worked with Christie in the U.S. Attorney's Office. The 54-year-old would replace Anne Milgram if her nomination is confirmed by the New Jersey Senate.
Meanwhile Corzine's appointments were released Monday. Some require state Senate approval, while dozens do not.
The nominations are full of well-known Democrats.
Christie has threatened to have his allies in the state Senate block nominations that he finds troublesome. Disputes over appointments began two weeks ago when Corzine nominated chief of staff Ed McBride to a judgeship.
Christie could abide some last-minute patronage appointments, but Corzine has gone to far, Sen. Tom Kean Jr., the Republican leader in the Senate and a Christie ally, told the Star-Ledger.
"To try to rush appointments through that will impact the policy-making ability of the incoming administration smacks of inappropriateness," Kean (R-Union) told the Ledger. "These are people who are going to impact policy in the upcoming four years. That is a role that is best left to the incoming governor."
