Murphy transition: Help wanted as team works behind the scenes during Thanksgiving week

The Phil Murphy transition maintained a low profile during Thanksgiving week, and the governor-elect himself made just one public appearance. But there is plenty to be done behind the scenes: speeches to write, interviews to conduct, names to vet for jobs. Here's what happened that we know about.

Help wanted

Murphy rolled out his transition website, complete with job opportunities. Much like the official governor's website, the transition site contains news and biography information for Murphy and his leadership team. But it was announced on Tuesday with a focus on finding people to fill out the functions of his administration.

“New Jersey’s greatest asset is its people,” Murphy said in a statement. “I call for all those interested in serving our administration to visit the Transition2018 website and submit their résumé for consideration. We will put an administration together that reflects New Jersey’s rich diversity of backgrounds and experiences, and we are committed to making those opportunities open to all.”

The website address is transition2018.nj.gov.

Help offered

Gov. Chris Christie offered a small bit of insight into his Trenton meeting with Murphy after his election. He said he offered some words of encouragement for what is one of the most difficult jobs in politics.

"I told him that, among other things, no matter what else anybody tells you, you're about to embark on the greatest political job that the people of this state can give you. It's the greatest public service job that they can give you," Christie said. "And I told him that he's going to love every minute of his job."

The next night, during his call-in show on NJ 101.5-FM, Christie offered himself to Murphy as he prepares to take over. But he hasn't heard from him since, he said.

"I said to him: This can be the first of many conversations or this can be the first and last, but that’s completely up to you," Christie said.

Help coming

A pro-Murphy group, New Direction New Jersey, launched with the imperative to "support and advocate for an agenda to strengthen the middle class and create economic opportunities for all of New Jersey."

The group is led by Murphy's campaign manager, Brendan Gill. Two other campaign media consultants, Steve DeMicco and Brad Lawrence, will also advise the group.

"In this past election, the voters of New Jersey overwhelmingly sent a message: We need to grow our economy and make it fair again," Gill said. "The time for action is now. New Direction New Jersey will work with allies to fight for a stronger and fairer economy that works for all New Jersey families."

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New Direction New Jersey follows a succession of "new" Murphy groups. There was also New Start New Jersey, the jobs-focused think tank Murphy started that gave him public visibility, and New Way for New Jersey, the political organization that preceded his formal run for governor.

New Direction New Jersey is a 501(c)4, meaning it doesn't have to disclose its donors. But Gill told Politico New Jersey that it plans to make that information available, because "transparency will be a key part of the agenda that we're going to promote."

$15 future

In a glimpse of what's to come beginning next year, Murphy joined the Legislature's two Democratic leaders — Senate President Stephen Sweeney and Assembly Speaker-designate Craig Coughlin — to advocate for a $15 minimum wage. Raising the minimum wage was one of Murphy's many promises during the campaign, but he said it is "as high a priority as we've got."

"We've got to get there. We have to do it responsibly, but we must get there," Murphy said.