Last updated/Reviewed on June 18, 2025
Overview
The governor appoints seven of the fifteen members to the Pinelands Commission, which is only as strong as its members and the certainty of their service. Four commissioners are serving on expired terms, and another commissioner’s term is set to expire June 28, 2025.
One important seat on the Commission has been glaringly vacant since the passing of Ed Lloyd in August 2023. Ed served on the commission for almost 22 years, using his expertise in environmental law to improve the Comprehensive Management Plan over issues like residential development, stormwater management, and solar energy facilities. The loss of this fierce environmental advocate has left a gaping hole in the Commission.
Current Status
PPA is working closely with the governor’s office along with our environmental allies to fill Ed Lloyd’s seat with someone equal to his stature, expertise, and commitment to the preservation of the Pinelands.
Background Information
The Pinelands Commission is comprised of fifteen members, seven of whom are nominated by the governor, one appointed by each of the seven Pinelands Counties (Atlantic, Burlington, Camden, Cape May, Cumberland, Gloucester, Ocean), and one federal representative from the Department of the Interior. Members of the Commission serve staggered three-year terms, but, once their terms expire, they continue in office until replaced or they resign. The Governor appoints the Chair of the Commission.
Pinelands Commissioners have the final say with regards to all rule changes and all development activities regulated by the Pinelands Comprehensive Management Plan (CMP). View the list of Pinelands Commissioners on the state’s website.
The Commission benefits from Commissioners bringing a range of perspectives from their professional experiences to inform discussions and decisions. Members have represented viewpoints of stakeholder groups such as farmers, wildfire managers, and environmental advocates. However, the perspective of minority groups has been missing. Like many other NJ boards and Commissions, the Pinelands Commission membership is overwhelmingly male and white—the only exceptions to this are gubernatorial appointees. You can read more about the need for greater gender and racial diversity on the Commission on our blog.
Some Get Fast-Tracked, Others Get Forgotten
Over the past three years, the New Jersey Pinelands Commission has experienced major shifts in its composition—marked by long delays, new voices, and the loss of a critical leader. On September 29, 2022, Governor Phil Murphy nominated Dr. Jessica Rittler Sanchez and Mark Mauriello as gubernatorial appointees. Mauriello was confirmed quickly on November 21, 2022, to fill the seat vacated by Gary Quinn, with a term ending June 2025.
Meanwhile, after a protracted wait, Dr. Jessica Rittler Sanchez was finally confirmed on December 7, 2023, years after her nomination. With a PhD and career experience in water quality and regional planning through the Delaware River Basin Commission, she has already begun bringing valuable hydrological expertise to the Commission’s decision-making.
Confirmed seemingly as hastily as she was nominated, on December 16, 2024, Deborah Buzby‑Cope, former mayor of Bass River Township, was confirmed to replace Davon McCurry as a gubernatorial appointee.
However, the seat of Commissioner Ed Lloyd, who passed away on August 5, 2023, remains glaringly vacant. Ed served for nearly 22 years, appointed by Governor McGreevey in 2002, and was a tireless advocate for the environment. Drawing on his expertise in environmental law, he strengthened the Comprehensive Management Plan’s protections for issues like residential development, stormwater, and solar energy siting. His absence has left a gaping hole on the Commission—and is emblematic of a broader pattern: governors from both parties have routinely struggled to prioritize Commission appointments, often letting these seats sit vacant.
Unless swift action is taken, by June 28, 2025, all gubernatorial appointees will be serving on expired terms—underscoring the need for sustained political will and timely appointments to keep the Commission functioning at full strength.
Given the recent interest in accessibility of Pinelands resources to those with mobility challenges, and the need to amend the CMP to accommodate future accessibility projects, Pinelands Preservation Alliance would like to see a disability rights advocate join the Commission. We would also like to see new members with deep experience working in environmental justice communities on issues of environmental equity.
Take Action
You can help us advocate for a full and diversified Pinelands Commission by asking Governor Murphy to make progress on new nominations ASAP. You can contact him with the following suggested message:
“Governor Murphy, the Pinelands Commission has an empty seat that won’t be filled until you take action. We need you to nominate an individual who will be a strong environmental advocate in the likeness of Ed Lloyd. We need Commissioners that bring a diversity of experiences to the Pinelands Commission, which lags behind the rest of the state’s boards and commissions in both racial and gender diversity. You have the power to shape the Pinelands Commission; please use it and make a nomination ASAP.”
Questions? Contact Policy Director, Heidi Yeh. She can be reached at Heidi@PinelandsAlliance.org or by phone at 609-859-8860 ext. 122.
Timeline
- September 29, 2022: Governor Murphy nominated Dr. Jessica Rittler Sanchez and Mark Mauriello as gubernatorial appointees (read our blog post here).
- November 21, 2022: Mark Mauriello was confirmed by the Senate Judiciary Committee to fill the seat vacated by Gary Quinn, with term ending June 2025.
- Aug 5, 2023: Commissioner Ed Lloyd—who joined in November 2002 under Governor McGreevey and served over 20 years—passed away at age 74.
- December 7, 2023: After a lengthy delay, Dr. Jessica Rittler Sanchez was finally confirmed by the Senate Judiciary Committee.
- December 16, 2024: The Senate Judiciary Committee confirmed Deborah Buzby‑Cope of Egg Harbor City to replace Davon McCurry as a gubernatorial appointee, with term expiring June 2025.
- June 28, 2025: All gubernatorial appointees will officially be serving on expired terms after this date.