Sweeney has overseen thousands of banquets, political bashes, repasts and weddings, all logged in an 18-inch-long green appointment book (she does not like computers). She said she’s met every New Jersey governor in recent memory, including Phil Murphy, who will succeed Gov. Chris Christie in January.

Murphy seemed nervous to speak to a crowd the night she met him, Sweeney said, despite his double-digit poll advantage.

“I told him, what’s wrong with you, you know you’ll be governor,” Sweeney said.

A brash redhead with an Irish brogue, Sweeney is known for saying precisely what’s on her mind, a trait that often leads to head-shaking from her son (and co-worker), Jay. At one point she referred to two local politicians as “crooked” and another as “highfalutin.” A loyal Democrat, she tries not to use President Trump’s name, calling him “Donald Duck” instead.