I’m a politics reporter at Observer, covering the New Jersey governor and state Legislature. I’ve uncovered and explained a huge loophole in the state’s pay-to-play disclosure law, defined coverage of the 2017 governor’s race with a scoop on how much Gov. Phil Murphy planned to raise in taxes, and I broke the news on a bill to let politicians get bigger pensions.

Prior to Observer, I was the City Hall reporter for the Press of Atlantic City, where I chronicled the casino town’s economic downturn and eventual state takeover of city government functions. My work revealed how the Casino Reinvestment Development Authority strayed from its original mission, and how the board members of the city’s water authority jacked up rates and then voted to give themselves $3,000 “gifts.”

My byline has also appeared in The Philadelphia Inquirer, The Courier-Post, and The Vineland Daily Journal. I’ve been featured on NPR’s “Weekend Edition” and NJTV’s “Reporters Roundtable.”

I can be reached at Christian@christianhetrick.com or on Twitter @_Hetrick.