Senate President Steve Sweeney today announced new leadership in the Senate Majority Office, with the appointment of Gene Lepore to serve as Acting Executive Director with the responsibility of managing operations of the Senate Majority Office. Jason Redd, who serves as Senior Counselor to the Senate President, will continue to manage the senate president’s legislative affairs and oversee his policy initiatives and agenda.

The announcement comes with Executive Director Kevin Drennan departing for employment in the private sector, after nearly five years as executive director. He will remain in the position until Sept 15.

“Gene and Jason are smart and accomplished professionals who have the trust and respect of the Senate Democratic caucus members and their colleagues, and they have the experience and expertise to ensure a seamless transition of office leadership,” said Senate President Sweeney. “I want to thank Gene for his willingness to step into this role at a critical time and Jason for his commitment to advancing the Democratic agenda, as we continue the important work in the Senate of advancing priorities that will help New Jersey residents, working families and the most vulnerable in the state.”

Lepore currently serves as Associate Executive Director and Director of Budget & Fiscal Analysis in the Senate Majority Office. He has served as Democratic Aide to the Senate Health, Human Services and Senior Citizens Committee, the Economic Growth Committee, Community and Urban Affairs Committee and the Labor Committee. Lepore received a bachelor’s degree from Saint Joseph’s University and a master’s degree in Public Policy from the Edward J. Bloustein School of Planning and Public Policy at Rutgers University.

Redd is Senior Counselor to the Senate President and previously served as Deputy Executive Director and General Counsel to the New Jersey Senate Majority Office, as chief of staff to Senate Majority Leader Loretta Weinberg and has held various counsel positions in the New Jersey Senate and General Assembly Majority Offices. He has also served as Counsel with Gibbons P.C. Redd received a bachelor’s degree and a master’s degree from Rutgers University and a law degree from Brigham Young University.

Senator Sweeney also announced the hiring of Eric Wachter as a Deputy Executive Director in the Senate Majority Office.

“Eric brings experience at both the state and federal levels to the position and has the knowledge and background to hit the ground running. I know he will make a great addition to the Senate Majority Office staff and am pleased to have him join our team,” said Senator Sweeney. 

Wachter served as the Director of the Office of the Executive Secretariat in the Office of the Administrator at the United States Environmental Protection Agency where he led teams that manage the correspondence, federal records and Freedom of Information Act requests for the Administrator and the Deputy Administrator. He also worked as a confidential assistant to former EPA Administrator Lisa P. Jackson, as an energy-and-environment team member on the Obama-Biden Transition Project and in a number of roles with the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection. Wachter earned a bachelor’s degree in political science and a master’s degree in nonprofit administration from the University of Notre Dame.