AP
Soon to be Ex-governor McGreevy prepares to deliver a farewell address.
Posted on 11/15/2004 9:22:22 AM PST by new cruelty
Gov. James E. McGreevey on Monday submitted his letter of resignation, ending at midnight a tenure doomed since his shocking summertime disclosure he had engaged in a gay, extramarital affair.
The one-sentence letter, signed by McGreevey, was filed with Secretary of State Regena Thomas. It says, "Dear Madam Secretary, I resign effective 11:59 p.m. on Monday, November 15, 2004. Sincerely, James E. McGreevey."
Thomas' office received the letter from a member of the governor's legal staff at 9:15 a.m.
Thomas also released Monday a signed version of the ceremonial oath of office taken the day before by McGreevey's replacement, Senate President Richard Codey. Codey takes over as acting governor once McGreevey officially has left the job.
Kathy Ellis, a spokeswoman for McGreevey, said the governor planned to spend Monday with his family away from the Statehouse but would remain available for any business that needed his attention.
McGreevey, whose June and July were marred by indictments of two of his fund-raisers, moved from the state political stage to the national one with a stunning announcement Aug. 12 that he was "a gay American." McGreevey, who is married, acknowledged having an affair with a man and, because of it, said he would leave office Nov. 15.
He promised to use his remaining three months to take the bold steps that only a man no longer beholden to politics could take. And the biggest step he took was signing an executive order banning government contractors from making political contributions to candidates for state offices.
By last week, McGreevey had wrapped up his work. He made a farewell speech to the state on Nov. 8, and a pair of moving trucks carted his belongings away from the Statehouse on Friday.
As they move out of Drumthwacket, the governor's mansion in Princeton, McGreevey and his wife are starting separate lives. The governor will reportedly move into an apartment in Rahway while Dina Matos McGreevey and their 2-year-old daughter will live in a house in Springfield.
Speaking to reporters after his private swearing-in ceremony at his West Orange home on Sunday, Codey said he had spoken a few days before with the man he is replacing. Both men are Democrats.
"He's looking forward to starting a new life and finding peace for himself and for his family as well," Codey said.
Besides a few staff members and state police security, the only other people at the ceremony were Codey's wife, Mary Jo; their two sons, Kevin and Chris; and Monsignor Michael Kelly of Seton Hall Prep. In a show of bipartisanship, Codey was sworn in by state Senate Minority Leader Leonard Lance, a Republican from Hunterdon County.
Lance's signature appears at the bottom of Codey's oath of office.
Codey, 57, a Democrat, opted for a private swearing-in ceremony in deference to the circumstances of McGreevey's departure, aides said. The event at his West Orange home was closed to the public and the news media, except for an Associated Press photographer.
Although he was not constitutionally obligated to do so, Codey recited the oath that specifically empowers him as Senate president to perform the duties of governor.
New Jersey is one of eight states without the position of lieutenant governor. Under the state Constitution, the Senate president fills the vacancy, retaining his Senate position while assuming the duties of governor.
Codey planned to spend Monday at state Senate committee meetings.
And the day after that, he said, he would start making New Jersey's executive office his own.
"I'm looking forward to governing, to bringing back calm, peace and a sense of harmony to the state of New Jersey," he said.
While talking of restoring a sense of normalcy to Trenton, Codey said he would make ethics reforms a top priority. And as a longtime champion of mental health concerns, he said one of the first things he will do in office is form a task force to look at ways to improve New Jersey's care for mentally ill people.
"You're going to see a different style, a different tone and a different focus as well," he said.
Codey is also a proponent of putting slot machines at the Meadowlands horse racing track, a move that could help close a projected $4 billion deficit for next year's budget, but could also reshape the landscape of gambling in a state where Atlantic City and its casinos have long been the dominant player.
Codey said he would not decide for some time whether he would seek a full term as governor in an election next November, even though several prominent members of both political parties in New Jersey have expressed interest or even launched campaigns for the post.
The only democrat with a "man date,"
hee hee
We will remember this when the next governors election takes place.
By the way I got a letter from Schundler telling me about a meeting they will be having later this month. Peggy Noonan will be attending.
Those exit poles finally did him in.
snicker snicker.
Now he's free to try out his brand new knee pads with the extra thick padding for extended use.
Did he release his staff?
yuk yuk
Who cares what he did wrong... HE'S GAY.
Thanks for sharing, Jimmy.
Oh.
Don't let the door hit you in the ass on the way out.
Correct me if I'm wrong but Senator Codey will remain in the Senate and Be Governor at the same time won't he?
No mention of his appointment of the unqualified boy-toy to the state anti-terrorism post?
Yeppers. After midnight he will relinquish his seat of power.
hehe.. heh... hehe..
So yes, Senator Codey will remain in the Senate and Be Governor at the same time.
Hey now, that "boy-toy" you are talking about was head-strong and cocksure.
You ask jim, I am sure he would tell you that "boy-toy" was more than qualified.
I can't believe homosexuals didn't scream like crazy when this guy wrapped himself in the gay agenda, trying to play the victim. I guess adultery and malfeasance are acceptable as long as homosexuals are made to look 'sympathetic' and 'picked on'.
Declaring he was a "gay american" was a master stroke on his part.
I agree. His "coming out" was very opportunistic, and was a diversion from the stink of scandals surrounding his office, the real reason he's leaving. And the press went for it hook, line and sinker.
He actually did the Repubs a favor by sticking in there
(no pun intended) until too late for a Corzine coronation.
Now maybe the Dems will get into a dirty intraparty squabble between Cody - a real certifiable left-wing basket case, and Daddy Warbucks Corzine. It might help the New Jersey Repubs to extricate themselves from their customary ineptitude and actually win an election for governor - with a real Republican.
This resignation business is getting overly ceremonial.
AP
Soon to be Ex-governor McGreevy prepares to deliver a farewell address.
What a creep!
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