Andy Kim

Former Toms River school board president joins state utility regulator; Lloyd Kass named executive director

By David Wildstein, October 27 2026 7:19 pm

Ben Giovine, a longtime top aide to U.S. Senator Andy Kim (D-Moorestown) who was an early supporter of Kim’s first congressional campaign in 2018, has been named chief of staff of the New Jersey Board of Public Utilities.

Giovine, a former president of the Toms River Board of Education, has worked for Kim for the past nine years, most recently as an assistant state director and director of intergovernmental affairs in his Senate office.

He was an early backer of Kim’s successful 2018 campaign to unseat Rep. Tom MacArthur (R-Toms River) and later served as Kim’s district director during his tenure in the House of Representatives.

Before joining Kim’s staff, Giovine served as Ocean County director for Rep. John Adler (D-Cherry Hill) and helped launch ReNew Jersey Stronger, a state program assisting homeowners recovering from Superstorm Sandy.

In his new position, Giovine will work closely with BPU President Ben Hertz-Shargel on agency priorities, administrative operations, and relationships with government officials and utility stakeholders.

“New Jersey families want lower energy bills and a cleaner future, and this agency is focused on delivering both,” Giovine said.

Hertz-Shargel also announced the appointment of Lloyd Kass as the BPU’s executive director, overseeing technical staff and implementation of board policies.

Kass has more than two decades of experience in utility policy, including senior positions at Franklin Energy, Lime Energy, Willdan, and the New York Power Authority. He is also an adjunct professor at Columbia University and a founding board member of the Energy Efficiency Alliance of New Jersey.

The appointments come as the BPU faces mounting pressure to address New Jersey’s high utility costs.