Susan Bass Levin

Susan Bass Levin was the Commissioner of the New Jersey Department of Community Affairs (DCA), serving in the cabinet of Governor of New Jersey Jon Corzine since being sworn into office on January 30, 2006. [ [http://www.nj.gov/governor/news/news/approved/20060130.html Farber and Bass Levin Sworn In as Attorney General and Community Affairs Commissioner] , Governor of New Jersey press release dated January 30, 2006.] She previously served as Commissioner of Community Affairs in the cabinets of former Gov. James McGreevey and former Gov. Richard Codey from 2002 to 2005. She resigned from the cabinet in June 2005 to head up operations for Corzine's gubernatorial campaign.

Biography

She served as Mayor of Cherry Hill Township for over a decade ending in 2002. Bass Levin, a Democrat ran for Congress against Jim Saxton in the 2000 election raising $1.7 million dollars, along with a visit from President Bill Clinton. Bass only managed to gain 42% of the vote in New Jersey's 3rd congressional district.

In December 1996, Bass Levin was a member of the New Jersey State Electoral College, one of 15 electors casting their votes for the Clinton/Gore ticket. [ [http://www.archives.gov/federal-register/electoral-college/votes/members_1996.html#nj 1996 Electoral College Votes] , accessed December 21, 2006]

On May 21, 2007, New Jersey Governor Jon S. Corzine named Levin Deputy Executive Director of the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey. [ [http://www.state.nj.us/governor/news/news/approved/20070521a.html Governor Corzine Names Susan Bass Levin as Deputy Director of The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey] , Governor of New Jersey press release dated May 21, 2007. Accessed May 30, 2007.] Levin will leave a Cabinet position to become a staff member of the bi-state agency, which owns the region's bridges, tunnels and airports. She will replace Jamie Fox, who had served as Chief of Staff to former Governor Jim McGreevey. As DCA Commissioner, Levin earned $141,000. It is reported that she will earn over $250,000 in her new position. At DCA, she managed more than 1,150 people and administered a budget of more than $1 billion. At the Port Authority, her budget will be $5 billion, and her staff will number more than 7,500 people. Levin said she would focus on the redevelopment of lower Manhattan and Access to the Region's Core, the plan for new Hudson River rail tunnels. Teterboro Airport also will be high on her priority list, she said. She will officially take over the position in July.

In June 2007, Corzine also named Levin to a five year term on the New Jersey Local Finance Board. The Local Finance Board oversees the finances of local governments in New Jersey and debt financing issues for local government. The position carries an annual stipend of $12,000 and qualifies Levin for continuation in the New Jersey pension system. The New Jersey State Senate confirmed Levin to the Local Finance Board. She will serve in the parttime board post while serving at the Port Authority.

In balancing power at the Port Authority, an agency with a $5 billion budget that runs four bridges, three airports, two tunnels, the PATH train system and the region's seaports, the practice has been for the executive director and vice chairman to be appointed by the governor of New York and the deputy executive director and chairman to be appointed by New Jersey's governor.

References

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