New Catholic governor brings activist career to New Jersey governor’s office
First of two parts
By Erick Rommel
Head Staff Writer
Although this isn’t the first time he’s served as acting governor, Richard J. Codey’s second time holding the top job in state government will leave a much larger footprint and greatly affect the path the state takes in regard to a variety of key issues for years to come.
Codey served a brief stint as acting governor in 2001 during the week before Jim McGreevey’s inauguration. While that time in the position was largely ceremonial, the next 14 months are anything but. Because he’s Senate president, Codey became acting governor Nov. 16 when former Governor McGreevey stepped down.
McGreevey announced his resignation Aug. 12, declaring he was a gay American who had an adulterous homosexual affair. In an extortion complaint made to the FBI, McGreevey claimed that his former assistant, Golan Cipel, threatened to file a sexual harassment lawsuit against him unless he received millions of dollars.
McGreevey first met Cipel in Israel four years ago when McGreevey was mayor of Woodbridge. In February 2002, McGreevey appointed Cipel, an unqualified non-citizen, to head the state’s Homeland Security Department, a job that paid six-figures. Cipel was later demoted and became an advisor to the governor before resigning in August 2002.
While McGreevey aides say Cipel was the man with whom the former governor had an affair, Cipel denies the allegation.
McGreevey and Codey are both Catholic and Democrats, but at odds with the Catholic Church when it comes to many social issues.
The second of five children, three boys and two girls, including one who is now a Sister of Charity, Codey grew up above the funeral home his family owns in Orange. He went to a Catholic grammar school before attending several high schools, finally graduating from Oratory Preporatory School, Summit, an all-boys Catholic school. Codey then attended Trenton Junior College before transferring to Farleigh Dickinson University. He left FDU before graduating, but returned to finish his degree in 1981.
Codey and his wife Mary Jo have been married 23 years and have two sons, 15-year-old Chris and 20-year-old Kevin. She is a special education teacher in West Orange at Gregory Elementary School and a public advocate for mental health issues. Mrs. Codey has battled depression most of her adult life. She went public about her illness 11 years ago.
First elected to the New Jersey Legislature at age 26 as an assemblyman in 1973, Codey served four terms. During that time, he chaired the State Government Committee, which played a critical role in the creation of the state’s Casino Control Act, which brought gambling to Atlantic City.
In 1981, Codey won election to the state Senate, where he became an advocate for healthcare and mental health issues. He’s also a strong supporter of the racing industry and a former race horse owner.
Before the 10-minute ceremony in the living room of the Codey’s West Orange home, Codey asked Msgr. Michael Kelly, headmaster of Seton Hall Prep to offer the prayer for him and his family. “I have known the Codey family since my days in high school in the 1950’s,” Msgr. Michael Kelly told The Catholic Spirit. “The prayer called upon God to bless his days as governor, to grant him courage and strength to hold to his beliefs, the wisdom of Solomon to be open to the opinion of others, encouragement for his wife and sons who will at times miss his presence at home because of his extremely demanding schedule and a blessing for all of us as citizens of New Jersey.”
In his first day as acting governor, Codey made a breakfast visit to Greystone Psychiatric Hospital and ate with approximately 50 mentally ill patients. Later that day, he issued his first executive order, establishing a task force to reform New Jersey’s public mental health system. “If my administration stands for anything,” he said before signing the order, “it will be known for standing for compassion, and standing up for those who may not be able to stand up for themselves.”
Raising awareness for mental health issues and correcting abuses in the system is what Codey may already be best known for in his political career. In 1985, he discovered at least 300 state psychiatric hospital employees had criminal records. Two years later, he borrowed the name of a dead sex offender and was hired as a night attendant at Marlboro Psychiatric Hospital. While there, he witnessed patients abused by attendants, mentally and physically. His discoveries led to legislative reforms throughout the system, many of which he sponsored.
That legislative activism continues. As Senate president during the 2004- 2005 Legislative Session, Codey was primary sponsor of 52 bills and cosponsor of 10 others. While some have little effect on the every day lives of New Jersey citizens, such as a bill designating the state song, others will result in significant changes, including one signed in January which reduced the blood alcohol level at which a person is considered guilty of drunk driving from 0.10 percent to 0.08 percent.
Codey is also cosponsor of a bill to establish a “Fallen Patriots Memorial Fund” that would provide a $100,000 military death benefit to the families of state residents killed on active federal duty.
Next week in The Catholic Spirit acting-Governor Codey’s controversial actions in support of stem-cell research and legal abortion, plus the challenges he faces in trying to tame the state budget.
*The attached/referenced article was originally published in The Catholic Spirit, the official newspaper of the Diocese of Metuchen, and is protected under U.S. and international copyright law