Posted on 08/16/2004 10:52:34 PM PDT by conservative in nyc
THE POLITICS
RENTON, Aug. 16 - Pressure for Gov. James E. McGreevey's immediate resignation grew on Monday as Democratic leaders and representatives of labor, environmental and other groups prepared to talk to Senator Jon S. Corzine this week to discuss his possible candidacy in a special election this fall.
While others maneuvered to push him out of the State House in time for a November contest, Mr. McGreevey spent most of his day behind closed doors here, and aides and friends said he had no intention of moving soon. His aides would not say whether anyone had asked the governor to step down before his planned departure date of Nov. 15.
But even those calling for him to leave now acknowledge that there will be no special election without Mr. McGreevey's assent. And State Senator Raymond J. Lesniak said, "The more pressure they try to put on Governor McGreevey to resign, the more it will strengthen his resolve to stay."
Mr. McGreevey, after a weekend getaway with his wife, Dina, reported to work Monday morning. He remained in his inner office through the day, then emerged from the State House about 3:30, smiled at photographers gathered in the parking lot, slipped into a black sedan and left for the governor's mansion.
Republicans who want the opportunity to run for his seat and Democrats who want to turn it over to Senator Corzine spent the weekend scrambling for ways to get Mr. McGreevey to leave office by Sept. 3 - the last point at which, under the State Constitution, an election can be called for the Nov. 2 ballot.
Otherwise, a new governor cannot be chosen until November 2005, and Senate President Richard J. Codey, a Democrat, would serve out the rest of the term, until January 2006.
Mr. Corzine has told colleagues he is interested in the governor's job, but until Mr. McGreevey's stunning announcement on Thursday, that interest was focused on 2005. As for a run this fall, a senior Democratic official who spoke on condition of anonymity said, "Mr. Corzine has indicated that while he will not pressure Mr. McGreevey to leave, he would run if drafted by the party."
Many theorize that Mr. Corzine is organizing that draft. A leader of one statewide advocacy group said that Mr. Corzine called him on Friday to arrange a conversation on Tuesday, and that the senator's aides had called at least half a dozen others with similar requests.
Democrats have identified Mr. Corzine's strongest supporters as United States Representative Robert E. Menendez of Hudson County, believed to be in line for Mr. Corzine's Senate seat; John Lynch, the Middlesex County Democratic leader, and George E. Norcross III, a powerful South Jersey leader and political enemy of Mr. Codey's.
Mr. Corzine's aides declined to comment on his plans on Monday, but his spokesman, David Wald, said on Sunday that "Jon Corzine is not pushing for a special election this November." Mr. Wald said the senator would be in New Jersey on Tuesday.
State House staff members were still dazed by Mr. McGreevey's announcement on Thursday that he was gay and had had an extramarital affair with another man. That man, identified as Golan Cipel, a former aide, then stepped forward to deny the affair and accuse Mr. McGreevey of sexual harassment.
The subsequent charges between the two sides - with the governor's lawyers accusing Mr. Cipel and his lawyer of an extortion attempt and Mr. Cipel's lawyer responding that they were offered hush money to avoid a lawsuit - are under investigation by the F.B.I.
The possibility of more disclosures has fed speculation here about whether Mr. McGreevey can last in office for another 17 days or will bend to pressure from his own party.
"If the Democratic machine works the way it usually works, he's gone by the end of the week," a Republican official, who insisted on anonymity, said on Monday. "But if this is Jim McGreevey's last chance to tell the bosses to kiss off, then that's something else." Mr. Codey did not return calls requesting comment.
Mr. McGreevey was not without his supporters. "The governor's resignation is voluntary and his decision to allow enough time for a smooth transition is prudent," Assembly Speaker Albio Sires said.
Republican leaders renewed their call for Mr. McGreevey to resign before Sept. 3, and they were clearly buoyed by reports that former Gov. Thomas H. Kean might be amenable to a draft.
"All of New Jersey, people from both sides of the aisle, would be very gratified to have a Tom Kean candidacy," Joseph M. Kyrillos, the chairman of the Republican State Committee, said at a news conference.
Mr. Kean, 69, was in Washington, where, as co-chairman of the commission investigating the Sept. 11 attacks, he was holding hearings. A spokesman for the commission, Al Felzenberg, said Mr. Kean had no immediate comment on a candidacy. Some Democrats acknowledged that Mr. Kean's entry might give pause even to Senator Corzine; Mr. Kean won his second term, in 1985, with 70 percent of the vote. But several people close to Mr. Kean said he was not likely to run again.
Mr. Kyrillos, a state senator, is considered a possible candidate in 2005 but said he would not run this fall. Another Republican prospect, Senate Minority Leader Leonard Lance, said in a telephone interview that "it's premature to discuss Republican candidates, given that the governor has not decided whether to resign." Both said they had not spoken to Mr. Kean. Bret D. Schundler, who lost to Mr. McGreevey in 2001, has said he is ready to run.
Two lawyers filed a class action in Trenton on Monday to compel the state to order an election for governor on the Nov. 2 ballot. The lawyers, Bruce Afran and Carl Mayer, who are not affiliated with either party, argue that Mr. McGreevey effectively vacated the office when he announced his departure.
A spokeswoman, Ellen Mellody, said Mr. McGreevey would be back at work on Tuesday. "The governor remains committed to having a smooth transition for the state and for his family," she said, "and those individuals who are watching out for their own interests instead of the citizens' can hold a vigil on the State House steps, but it will not change the governor's commitment."
The very worst thing about this McGreevey story is the endless parade of off-color straight lines it generates.
The Jersey Dem Machine,is far worse than the old N.Y.C. Tameny one and that's saying something.Boss Tweed would be sooooooooooooooooooo jealous,if he were still alive.
Why not unearth Christine Whitman while their at it?
Groan.
Ooops. I did it too.
their = they're
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