With less than a week left in his second term, outgoing Gov. Chris Christie (R) has appointed former Hoboken Councilwoman Beth Mason to the local housing authority after nearly 21 months of the state appointed seat being vacant. 
By John Heinis/Hudson County View
Christie, whose term expires next Tuesday, announced Mason’s appointment today with little fanfare as his office released a list of dozens of direct appointments throughout the state.
According to the Hoboken Housing Authority’s official website, Christie’s last appointment to the HHA, Judy Burrell, saw her five-year term expire on April 15th, 2016 – meaning the seat has been vacant for just shy of 21 months.
Mason, at one point a consistent political adversary of ex-Mayor Dawn Zimmer, opted not to seek re-election to the city council in 2015 and has since forged a solid relationship with state Senate President Steve Sweeney (D-3) – who has shown an ability to work with Christie at times.
In June 2016, Mason hosted a fundraiser for a pro-Sweeney super PAC, New Jerseyans for a Better Tomorrow, to bolster an expected gubernatorial run – though that never came to fruition.
Then, less than two months ago, Mason and Sweeney teamed up to co-host a post-election victory party for the latter in Atlantic City during the League of Municipalities.
Despite a spirited, and extremely expensive challenge from a New Jersey Education Association funded opponent, Sweeney was re-elected in November with relative ease.
Mason could not immediately be reached for comment, while HHA Chairman David Denning declined to comment.