Assemblyman Chivukula Nominated To State BPU, Township Democratic Chair Said To Be Up For Seat

State Assemblyman Upendra Chivukula has been nominated for a seat on the state Board of Public Utilities by Gov. Chris Christie.

State Assemblyman Upendra Chivukula, (D-12) has been nominated to fill a vacancy on the state Board of Public Utilities by Gov. Chris Christie.

Chivukula is a former mayor and Township Councilman. He has served in the state Assembly since 2002, and has been that body’s deputy speaker since 2007.

Chivukula’s nomination  was announced with a number of other Christie nominations, including the naming of former state Department of Transportation commission Jamie Fox back to that position. All of the nominees will have to be confirmed by the state Senate.

Chivukula would have to resign his seat in the Assembly to take the BPU position, setting up a special election for his replacement.

Published reports indicate that Joe Danielsen, the township Democratic Party chairman, has support of county Democrats to run for Chivukula’s seat. Danielsen, whose wife Christine is a member of the Board of Education, would not comment.

Chivukula also serves as chairman of the Assembly’s Telecommunications and Utilities Committee, is the vice chairman of that chamber’s Homeland Security and State Preparedness Committee and a member of the Transportation, Public Works, and Independent Authorities Committee.

In a statement emailed to the press, state Assembly Speaker Vincent Prieto (D-Hudson/Bergen) said, “while I would miss Asm. Chivukula’s guidance and friendship in the Assembly, I also applaud the governor’s nomination of the Assemblyman to the Board of Public Utilities. New Jersey has no better advocate for consumers and modern utility reform than Asm. Chivukula.”

This is a developing story. Check back for more information.

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