By Audrey Levine, Staff Writer
After 12 years serving as Somerset County Prosecutor, Hillsborough resident Wayne Forrest has not received a nomination from Gov. Jon Corzine to serve a third term, and Sen. Christopher “Kip” Bateman, R-16th, is looking for a full explanation.
”The governor’s office has not give me a reason as to why (he was not nominated),” Sen. Bateman said Wednesday.
On Monday, Gov. Corzine announced his nomination for Somerville Attorney John McDonald instead. The nomination was announced via a press release from the governor’s office.
Mr. Forrest has already served 12 years as prosecutor, with two five-year terms and an additional two years in the position when, as appointed by then Gov. Christie Whitman, he took over from Nicholas Bissell in 1997.
According to Sen. Bateman, once the nomination is made by the governor, it must be approved by the senators representing the particular county. At this point, he said, the nomination is currently “in limbo” because he will not give his approval.
”Nothing can progress until then,” he said. “I will not take the next step until I get a reason (for not nominating Mr. Forrest).”
Once it moves on from the county itself, Sen. Bateman said, the next step is gaining approval for the nomination from the Senate Judiciary Committee, and then the State Senate itself. The entire process, he said, usually takes several weeks or months.
At this point, Sen. Bateman said, the Senate is on an appropriations break until May, so the process probably will not continue until then.
According to Sen. Bateman, he is looking for a reason to justify the change in prosecutor.
”Mr. Forrest inherited a difficult situation (when he became prosecutor),” Sen. Bateman said. “I think he has done an excellent job.”
Mr. Forrest could not be reached for comment.

