Evan Weiss had his reasons for leaving state government in 2021. One of them, he recalls, was “because I started to feel so removed” from the constituents who were affected by the sweeping policies and billions in funds he helped deploy as a top adviser to Gov. Phil Murphy.

He rediscovered that connection as head of the nonprofit Newark Alliance, a role he held for four years — and one that will loom large as he returns to Trenton as CEO of the state Economic Development Authority.