Former Port Authority Deputy Executive Director and state legislator Bill Baroni has a new job.
By Charles W. Kim, Managing Editor
PRINCETON — Former Port Authority Deputy Executive Director and state legislator Bill Baroni has a new job.
Mr. Baroni is taking a post as legal counsel with the Hill Wallack LLP law firm in Princeton, according to a press release from the firm Wednesday.
”We know Bill extremely well and have our own opinion of (him),” Bob Basco, managing partner of the firm said Wednesday afternoon. “We are delighted to have Bill join the Hill Wallack LLP team. Bill’s extensive experience in business and finance, and education and non-profit sectors will prove to be very beneficial to the firm’s clients.”
Despite resigning in the wake of Gov. Chris Christie’s “bridgegate” scandal, Mr. Baroni was recruited by the firm, Mr. Basco said.
”When we found out he was available, we reached out to him to see if he wanted to join our firm,” Mr. Basco said.
A resident of Hamilton, Mr. Baroni is admitted to practice law in New Jersey, New York, and the District of Columbia. He earned his JD from the University of Virginia School of Law and his BA, magna cum laude, in history from George Washington University, according to the release.
He has served as both an assemblyman and state senator from the 14th legislative district since 2003 before taking a job in Gov. Christie’s administration in the Port Authority in 2010.
During his time at the Port Authority, texts show that Mr. Baroni was involved to some degree in a decision to close three lanes accessing the George Washington Bridge in September.
The reason for the closures, which jammed traffic in Fort Lee, remain unclear and are being investigated by several state and federal agencies.
One reason could be political payback for the Fort Lee Mayor not endorsing Gov. Christie during his re-election campaign.
Gov. Christie has denied knowing about the move.
Subpoenas issued during the investigation led to the release of pages of texts between the officials.
Those released texts during the last several months show Mr. Baroni communicating with former Port Authority executive David Wildstein and Gov. Christie top aid Bridget Kelly.
Gov. Christie fired Ms. Kelly and Mr. Wildstein resigned his post with the agency after the emails were made public.
Prior to that release, Mr. Baroni testified in front of the state’s Transpiration Committee and said the closures were part of a four-day study to judge the “fairness” of having those access lanes dedicated to Fort Lee during the morning rush.
Mr. Baroni could not be reached for comment Wednesday.
The texts also showed Ms. Kelly and Mr. Wildstein making fun of South Brunswick Rabbi Mendy Carlebach, who serves as a chaplain for the Port Authority.
In the texts from August, Mr. Wildstein said that Rabbi Carlebach had angered him and joked about causing traffic problems near his township home.
Rabbi Carlebach, who heads one of two Chabad houses in the township, has not returned phone calls seeking comment.
When asked specifically about the scandal, and what influence it had on the law firm’s decision to hire Mr. Baroni, Mr. Basco said that he had “no comment on that,” but the firm feels Mr. Baroni will be a great addition for the firm.
According to the release, the Hill Wallack LLP firm was founded in 1978 and is a leading law firm with offices in Princeton and Morristown, New Jersey and Yardley, Pennsylvania.
The firm employs 70 lawyers and works with businesses, non-profit agencies, governmental agencies and individuals involved in litigation, transactional and regulatory issues.
The firm also includes those skilled in family law, trusts and estates, tax liability and other areas of individual service.
Mr. Basco said the firm has worked with the state Attorney General’s Office for many years during both Republican and Democratic administrations.