[2] Daggett returned to New Jersey and worked on the 1977 gubernatorial campaign of Republican Party candidate Raymond Bateman against the incumbent Brendan Byrne.

He was also nominated by Kean to be the permanent Commissioner, but his nomination was delayed by an ethics investigation over his attendance at a fundraiser for George H. W. Bush hosted by Republican National Finance Committee chairman Lawrence E. Bathgate II, an attorney for Ciba-Geigy, under indictment for dumping hazardous waste at its facility in Ocean County.

He was appointed by Governor Jon Corzine as chairman of the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection Permit Efficiency Task Force.

"This is a good opportunity to look at what are doing and why we are doing it, whether we can better spend our money and who we can work with collaboratively to have a bigger impact", said Daggett, who took over as CEO in June 2010.

[6] Daggett resides in the Basking Ridge section of Bernards Township with his wife, Bea (née Horvath).

[7] He raised enough money to qualify him for taxpayer matching funds, which would allow him to participate in televised debates with Governor Corzine and Republican candidate Christopher J.

[12] In late October, former New York City mayor Rudy Giuliani demanded Daggett withdraw from the race.