By David Wildstein, May 21 2024 11:12 am
Carl Golden, who served as press secretary to two Republican governors and a chief justice, died on Monday. He was 86.
Golden began as a reporter for the Easton Express-Times and then joined the Assembly Republican staff around the time professional staffs were just beginning in Trenton. He was there when Tom Kean served as Majority Leader, Speaker, and Minority Leader of the New Jersey State Assembly. He was there when Kean cut a deal with four Democrats to become Speaker after the GOP lost control of the lower house in 1971.
In 1981, Golden served as press secretary to Senate Minority Leader Barry Parker’s campaign for the Republican nomination for governor. He was later hired by the winner of the GOP primary, Kean, as his spokesman in the general election against Democrat Jim Florio.
After the election, Kean named Golden as his press secretary.
After leaving Kean’s office, he became spokesman for Chief Justice Robert Wilentz and the Administrative Office of the Courts.
Golden returned to the executive branch in 1994 as press secretary to Gov. Christine Todd Whitman.
If you liked this post, you’ll love our daily environmental newsletter, EnviroPolitics. It’s packed daily with the latest news, commentary, and legislative updates from New Jersey, Pennsylvania, New York, Delaware…and beyond. Please do not take our word for it, try it free for an entire month. No obligation.
