Martin Perez Sworn in to Rutgers Board of Governors Following Alleged Legal Threat From Senate President

Less than a week after a rumored legal challenge to his appointment, Martin Perez was sworn in as the newest member of the Rutgers University Board of Governors on Monday, the University announced.

“I look forward to working with Rutgers and making a contribution to the state university,” Perez said Tuesday morning. “There was no reason for this controversy. It was just a simple appointment.”

Perez was initially set to be sworn in Thursday, July 11, but said he received a phone call while on his way to the meeting informing him he would not be sworn in.

He was told there was a legal challenge to his appointment from State Senate President Stephen Sweeney. New Brunswick Today reported sources stated this was the case, and a University representative last week said a last minute legal challenge presented itself, and Rutgers was unable to act fast enough to resolve it before Thursday's meeting.

Attempts to reach Sweeney for comment and clarification were unsuccessful on Friday and Tuesday.

Rutgers University Attorney John Farmer wasn't available on Tuesday, but Rutgers Director of Media Relations E.J. Miranda acknowledged all legal issues regarding the appointment were resolved before Perez was sworn in. 

Perez didn't know the specifics of why he was sworn in on Monday.

“I was told by the attorney that they figured out the issues and legal challenges,” Perez said. “He told me the issues were decided and that I would be sworn in as soon as possible.

“I guess cooler heads prevailed.”

“The Board of Governors is pleased to welcome Mr. Perez and we look forward to utilizing his expertise and experience as we chart an even brighter future for Rutgers University and the people that it serves,” Rutgers Board of Governors Chair Gerald C. Harvey said in a statement issued following the ceremony.

“I want to welcome Martin Perez to the Rutgers University Board of Governors. For more than two years, Senate President Sweeney, Sen. Bob Smith and their fellow Senate Democrats have blocked him and deprived the Board of Hispanic representation,” Gov. Chris Christie said in a prepared statement. “Their last-minute obstructionism has failed, and the University now has the diversity and voice of the community it needs and deserves.”

Attempts to reach Smith for comment were unsuccessful.

The Governor's Office referred all other comment on the legal matters involved in the issue to Rutgers University.

Perez graduated from the Rutgers School of Law-Newark in 1986. His wife and son are also graduates from the Rutgers School of Law-Newark, and his daughter is a current student at Rutgers.

Christie made the appointment as one of his two new appointments to the Board alloted him by the Higher Education Restructuring Act, which also merged seven of the University of Medicine and Dentistry New Jersey's (UMDNJ) schools with Rutgers. 

Christie made the appointment after the State Senate stalled on the nomination for 18 months.

The Board of Governors is selected in part by the Governor and in part by the Board of Trustees, a University governing body Sweeney has proposed eliminating.