NEWARK – Longtime Democratic Party operative Julie Diaz of Perth Amboy is leaving her job as the statewide political director of 32BJ SEIU to begin her job as chief of staff to the new State Commissioner of Labor, Robert Asaro-Angelo.

Diaz started in 2007 as one of a handful of Central Jersey grassroots Obama for America organizers. She later went to the Corzine Administration, and then played a key role in field operations in LD20, serving as chief of staff to Assemblywoman Annette Quijano (D-20) before going to 32BJ three years ago.

“I hate to lose Julie,” Kevin Brown, state director of 32BJ SEIU told InsiderNJ.