Kathleen Frangione will serve as interim chief of staff for Governor Phil Murphy in the event that the governor can’t find a full-fledged replacement prior to the departure of Peter Cammarano following the governor’s scheduled state of the state address.

“Just starting the process,” said a source, as Murphy World undertakes to supplant Cammarano.

Chief policy adviser to the governor, Frangione fulfills what one source described as a critical asset as Murphy attempts to ward off the stinging allegations associated with Katie Brennan’s testimony.

She’s a woman.

Two other staffers in the governor’s inner sanctum might have also been in the mix for the job or the interim job, but Deborah Cornevaca (deputy COS of outreach) is perceived as too close to Cammarano amid administration fractures; and Lynn Haynes, deputy COS for cabinet affairs and operations, appears poised for flight from the administration.

Frangione is seen internally as more of a policy person than a political minder.