New Jersey’s Acting Governor Won’t Run in Next Election

When New Jersey Governor James E. McGreevey resigned the job amid a gay sex scandal and took a drawn-out departure, it fell to Richard J. Codey, state Senate President, to pick up the pieces. It is rare for an incumbent in American politics to decline another term, but Mr. Codey will announce later today that he won’t run for the office he now holds. It’s a pity because the reason he will give is money – he can’t afford to run.

US Senator John Corzine, who is a multimillionaire and who spent $60 million of his own money to win his current seat in Washington, has said he will run for the governor’s job – experts say he could easily spend $40 million in the effort. Mr. Codey’s camp had said that raising $10 million would be a target that would be ambitious while realistic. It would also mean they would be outspent four to one. And that would merely be for the Democratic nomination. The general election against the GOP nominee would cost extra.

Mr. Codey may or may not be a great politician, and he may or may not be the right man for the state next time around. He isn’t telegenic, and he didn’t have a Wall Street or Hollywood job before entering politics. And his wife’s history of mental illness has made his personal life difficult, while offering the unscrupulous in New Jersey politics (a state where politics is a blood sport) a great weapon. All the same, he was open about that situation, and on his first day as governor, had breakfast with patients at a mental hospital. Politicians to address problems head-on deserve serious consideration at election time.

He is given enough regard to be the top man in the state senate. Not only does he command sufficient respect among his constituents, other state senators see him as a man to follow. The New Jersey legislature’s website lists his career as: Senate 1982-present, President 2004-present, Democratic President 2002-03, Minority Leader 1998-2001, Assistant Minority Leader 1992-98; General Assembly [lower chamber] 1974-81. In short, he is perfectly qualified to run for governor.

John Corzine is an able legislator who has used his personal fortune to secure that position in the 2000 election. It is unclear where the two differ in their agendas and perspectives. That is the purpose a campaign serves, to differentiate the candidates. Regrettably, the American political system is currently configured to prevent that debate from occurring because of the role money plays. And that is a shame.



© Copyright 2005 by The Kensington Review, J. Myhre, Editor. No part of this publication may be reproduced without written consent.

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