Martin Perez was sworn in as a member of the Rutgers Board of Governors today.

By Kelly Heyboer/ The Star-Ledger

NEW BRUNSWICK — After more than two years of controversy over his appointment, Rutgers University quietly swore in New Brunswick lawyer Martin Perez to its board of governors today.

Perez took his oath without any public notice, just days after Senate President Stephen Sweeney had threatened to take legal action if the attorney took a seat on the board. Sweeney had argued Perez, one of the first Latinos on the board, was illegally appointed by Gov. Chris Christie.

Perez was scheduled to take the oath at a public meeting last week, but was told to stay home a half hour before the Rutgers Board of Governors meeting. Perez said John Farmer Jr., Rutgers’ chief counsel, told him Sweeney (D-Gloucester) had threatened legal action if Perez cast votes at the meeting.

Sweeney had argued the governor needed to appoint someone from Essex or Camden counties to the Rutgers board under a provision in the new higher education restructuring law that expanded the board from 11 to 15 members. Christie disagreed, saying the law was on his side and he had the right to make one appointment of his choice without the consent of the state Senate.

Perez’s appointment had been controversial from the beginning. When Christie first named him to the board two years ago, Sen. Bob Smith (D-Middlesex) used a procedural maneuver called senatorial courtesy to block his appointment. Smith said he had concerns about Perez, but he gave no details.

Then, Christie used the new higher education law that expanded the size of the Rutgers board to bypass the Senate to make the appointment.

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