Online Encyclopedia Search Tool

Your Online Encyclopedia

 

Online Encylopedia and Dictionary Research Site

Online Encyclopedia Free Search Online Encyclopedia Search    Online Encyclopedia Browse    welcome to our free dictionary for your research of every kind

Online Encyclopedia



Jim McGreevey

(Redirected from James McGreevey)
James McGreevey

James E. "Jim" McGreevey (born August 6, 1957) is an American politician who is currently the Democratic Governor of New Jersey, though he has announced his resignation effective November 15, 2004. He was elected on November 6, 2001 to a term originally scheduled to run from January 15, 2002 until January 2006.

Career

He was born in Jersey City, where he went to St. Joseph's High School. He graduated from Columbia University in 1978 and later took a law degree from the Georgetown University Law Center in 1981 and a master's degree in education from Harvard University in 1982. McGreevey was a member of the New Jersey State Assembly from 1990 to 1992, when he became Mayor of Woodbridge, New Jersey. He was re-elected Mayor in 1995 and 1999. He was elected to the State Senate in 1993, simultaneously serving as Mayor during the four-year Senate term. He also ran for governor in 1997, but was defeated in a close race (47%-46%) by the incumbent Republican, Christine Todd Whitman. McGreevey ran for the governorship again in 2001. His Republican opponent in the was Bret Schundler, who began to campaign after Donald DiFrancesco dropped out of the race due to allegations of corruption.

After winning the governorship on his second try, McGreevey inherited a $5 billion budget deficit. During his term McGreevey fought tax increases for most residents of the state. He raised taxes only on millionaires, cigarettes and other items. However, any tax increase broke his campaign promise not to raise taxes.

McGreevey is a Roman Catholic. His pro-choice stance on abortion resulted in his stating that he would not receive communion at public church services. This decision came after a request by Newark Archbishop John J. Myers for pro-choice supporters to not seek communion when they attended Mass. He is committed to the separation of church and state, having said that he believes "it's a false choice in America between one's faith and constitutional obligation."

McGreevey has one daughter from his first marriage to Kari Schutz, which ended in divorce, and one daughter from his second marriage to Dina Matos.

Decision to Resign

On August 12, 2004, faced with reports that Golan Cipel would file a sexual harassment suit against him in Mercer County Court, McGreevey announced at a press conference that he is "a gay American", that he "engaged in an adult consensual affair with another man", and that he would resign effective November 15, 2004. McGreevey previously appointed Cipel to serve as his homeland security aide. Cipel resigned from the post after only eight months in office, amid complaints about his lack of qualifying experience for the position.

With his announcement, McGreevey became the first openly gay Governor in the history of the United States.

The announcement allowed McGreevey to be the first to present the news of the upcoming suit to the media, while the delay of the effective date of resignation until after September 3, 2004 avoids a special election in November to replace the governor. This allows the Democratic Party to remain in power for at least another year, while avoiding the prospect of George W. Bush running in tandem with a Republican candidate for governor, possibly capturing New Jersey's electoral votes.

Republicans and others in New Jersey have called upon McGreevey to resign immediately.[1] The New York Times said, editorially: "Mr. McGreevey's strategy [to delay resignation] doesn't serve New Jersey residents well. The state will be led by an embattled governor mired in personal and legal problems for three months."[2] An online petition paid for by the Scott Garrett for Congress campaign was claimed to have drawn 10,000 signatures by Garrett's campaign manager on August 27, although it wasn't clear how many of those signatures were by New Jersey residents. On September 15, U.S. District Judge Garrett Brown Jr. dismissed the case Afran v. McGreevey, filed by Green Party lawyers Bruce Afran and Carl Mayers, dismissing their claime that the postponement of McGreevey's resignation had left a vanacy, thereby violating New Jersey residents voting rights. Brown stated, McGreevey clearly intends to hold office until Nov. 15, 2004. The requirement of holding a special election does not arise. The rights of registered voters are not being violated. Afran re-filed the same suit in Mercer Country's Superior Court and Judge Linda R. Feinberg is due to hear arguments on October 4.

McGreevey's fellow Democrat and New Jersey Senate President Richard Codey is expected to serve out McGreevey's term if McGreevey succeeds in delaying his resignation and avoiding a special election to fill out the last year of his term. Codey, assuming he is still Senate President at the time, would become acting governor until the next general election in 2005. The New Jersey State Constitution stipulates that while acting as governor, the Senate president continues to lead that body simultaneously.

As of September, 2004, there are rumors that McGreevey may withdraw his resignation.


Preceded by:
Richard Codey
(Acting Governor)
Governors of New Jersey May be succeeded by:
Richard Codey
(Acting Governor)


External links




Last updated: 11-08-2004 00:29:53