Franzese, who was appointed chair of the State Ethics Commission this year by Governor Jon Corzine, has been selected in recognition of and appreciation for her previous service as Special Ethics Counsel to Governor Richard Codey and as a member of the Ethics and Policy Management Task Force for Governor Corzine.

In 2004, Franzese and Justice Daniel J. O'Hern were appointed Special Ethics Counsel to Governor Codey. In that capacity, they submitted the most comprehensive ethics audit and reform agenda of its kind, resulting in significant ethics reform of the Executive Branch of New Jersey state government. Previously, Franzese was appointed by Governor Christine Todd Whitman to serve as Commissioner of the New Jersey Election Law Enforcement Commission, and in 2000 she was elected vice-chair of the commission, where she served until 2004.

The Center for Civic Responsibility is a non-partisan organization based in Metuchen. Its mission is to build civic community and restore citizen control and public responsibility by providing citizens with educational and legal tools to exercise their power in local, state and national decision-making.

Franzese is to be presented with the award at the Center for Civic Responsibility annual awards dinner May 2 at the Hyatt Regency in New Brunswick.