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Former Passaic County Commissioner Asad R. Akhter will join Gov. Phil Murphy’s staff as senior director of government affairs as part of the governor’s second-term staff reorganization, The New Jersey Globe has confirmed.
Tim Hillman, currently acting chief of staff for intergovernmental affairs and human resources, will take on an additional role in Murphy’s office as deputy chief of staff for government affairs, officials said.
Next month, Hillman will absorb Blaz’s department, as Justin Blaz, who previously served as chief of staff for legislative affairs, will become deputy secretary and chief of staff for the New Jersey Department of Transportation.
In his new role with Hillman, Achtel will work with legislators to advance the governor’s agenda, intergovernmental affairs, appointments and district affairs.
Mr. Achter, 41, worked on the staff of U.S. Rep. Bill Pascrell (D-Patterson) for 11 years before running for office. He served as Pascrell’s legislative director in Washington and ran the regional office. He is director of community support at St. Joseph Healthcare System and, since 2019, director of public affairs at University Hospital in Newark.
In 2016, Mr. Achter won a special election convention for a vacant seat on the Passaic County Freeholder Board. He replaced Hector Lora, who was elected mayor of Passaic. He defeated Republican Michael Bivino in a 2017 special election by a margin of 57% to 43% and won a full term in 2018 by more than 25,000 votes.
In November 2021, Mr. Achter lost his seat to Republican Nick Gallo by 739 votes.
Mr. Hillman spent nine years on the staff of U.S. Sen. Bob Menendez before joining Mr. Murphy in 2018.
Sam Parker will continue as director of appointments, Elizabeth Lawrence will remain as the governor’s director of voter relations, and Emmy Quispe will remain director of legislative affairs.
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