Gov.-elect Christopher Christie's expected nomination of Essex County Prosecutor Paula Dow as state Attorney General presents a possible conflict for State Sen. Teresa Ruiz (D-Newark), who must sign off on Dow as one of five Senators who has courtesy over appointments from Essex County. The Attorney General is currently investigating allegations of voter fraud from Ruiz's 2007 State Senate campaign, and has indicted several campaign workers, including Ruiz's husband, Essex County Freeholder Samuel Gonzalez. If confirmed, it would be Dow who prosecutes the North Ward crew – a political organization that Christie has aggressively cultivated.
