Jim McGreevey

James E. McGreevey
Jim McGreevey
52nd Governor of New Jersey
In office
January 15, 2002 – November 15, 2004
(resigned)
Preceded by Donald DiFrancesco
Succeeded by Richard Codey
Born August 6, 1957 ( 1957-08-06) (age 52)
Jersey City, New Jersey
Political party Democratic
Spouse 1. Kari Schutz
(1991-1997) divorced
2. Dina Matos
(2000-2008) divorced
Profession Politician
Religion Episcopalian

James Edward "Jim" McGreevey (born August 6, 1957) is an American Democratic politician. He served as the 52nd Governor of New Jersey from January 15, 2002, until November 15, 2004, when he resigned from office. McGreevey coupled the announcement of his decision to resign with a public declaration of his homosexuality and an admission to having an extramarital affair with the Israeli man he had appointed homeland security adviser. McGreevey was the first and, to date, the only openly gay state governor in United States history.[1]

Contents

Early life and education

James McGreevey was born in Jersey City New Jersey, to Irish Catholic parents[2] and grew up in nearby Carteret, New Jersey. There he attended St. Joseph Elementary School, and later St. Joseph High School in Metuchen. He attended The Catholic University of America[3] before graduating from Columbia University in 1978. He earned a law degree from the Georgetown University Law Center in 1981 and a master's degree in education from Harvard University in 1982.[4][5] He also attended a diploma program in law at the London School of Economics.[6]

Political career

McGreevey was a member of the New Jersey General Assembly from 1990 to 1992, when he became Mayor of Woodbridge Township, New Jersey.[7][8] He was re-elected mayor in 1995 and 1999. He was elected to the New Jersey Senate in 1993, simultaneously serving as mayor during the four-year Senate term. He first ran for governor in 1997, but was defeated in a close race (47% to 46%) by the incumbent Republican Christine Todd Whitman. Libertarian candidate Murray Sabrin received slightly over 5% of the vote.[9] McGreevey ran for the governorship again in 2001 and won with 56% of the vote,[10] making him the first majority-elected governor since James Florio.[11] His Republican opponent in that race was Bret Schundler.[12] Other candidates in the race included William E. Schluter (Independent), Jerry Coleman (Green), Mark Edgerton (Libertarian), Michael Koontz (Conservative), Costantino Rozzo (Socialist) and Kari Sachs (Socialist Workers).[13][14]

Governorship of New Jersey

After being elected to the governorship on his second try (on November 6, 2001), McGreevey inherited a $5 billion budget deficit.[15] During his term, McGreevey raised the tax on cigarettes[16] and increased the state income tax for the wealthy.[17] Raised as a Roman Catholic[18] but maintaining a pro-choice stance on abortion,[19] he stated as governor that he would not receive Communion at public church services.[20]

Among McGreevey's accomplishments were implementing a stem cell research plan for New Jersey,[21] heavily lobbying for the state's first domestic partnership law for same-sex couples[22] and signing such a law in early 2004.[23]

McGreevey's term was controversial, with questions about the credentials of several of his appointees[24] to pay to play[25][26] and extortion scandals involving backers and key New Jersey Democratic fundraisers.[27][28][29]

Golan Cipel controversy

Further information: Golan Cipel

McGreevey was criticized for appointing as homeland security adviser Golan Cipel, because he lacked experience or other qualifications for the position. In addition, Cipel could not gain a security clearance from the Federal government, as he was Israeli and not a U.S. citizen. McGreevey had met him in Israel during a trip there in 2000.[30]

According to McGreevey in The Confession, The Record was the first newspaper to break the news of a relationship between McGreevey and Cipel. McGreevey brought up Cipel's name six weeks into his administration in a February 14, 2002, interview with The Record's editorial board at its offices saying:

“ We will not skimp on security. We actually brought on a security adviser from the Israel Defense Forces, probably the best in the world.[31] ”

The interview prompted news investigation into Cipel's background. On February 21, The Record published a profile of Cipel, calling him a "sailor" and a "poet." The article stated,“Democrats close to the administration say McGreevey and Cipel have struck up a close friendship and frequently travel together”, prompting McGreevey's own mother to confront him about his sexual orientation. Various media organizations sent reporters to Israel to ask questions about Cipel and his background.

In August 2002 at McGreevey's request, Cipel stepped down from his position as homeland security adviser.[32][33]

Resignation

On August 12, 2004, faced with threats from Cipel's lawyer Allen Lowy that Cipel would file a sexual harassment lawsuit against him in Mercer County Court,[34] McGreevey announced at a press conference, "My truth is that I am a gay American."[35] He also said that he had "engaged in an adult consensual affair with another man" (whom his aides immediately named as Cipel),[36] and that he would resign effective November 15, 2004. New Jersey political circles had speculated about McGreevey's sexual orientation and questions about his relationship with Cipel had been alluded to in the media. McGreevey's announcement made him the first openly gay state governor in United States history. The Star-Ledger won the 2005 Pulitzer Prize for Breaking News Reporting for its "coverage of the resignation of New Jersey’s governor after he announced he was gay and confessed to adultery with a male lover."[37]

McGreevey's decision to delay the effective date of his resignation until after September 3, 2004 avoided a special election in November to replace the governor.[38] Doing so allowed the Democratic Party to retain control of the governor's office for at least another year. It avoided the prospect of a Republican incumbent governor's running in tandem with George W. Bush, which could have helped Bush capture New Jersey's electoral votes.[39][1] (Bush did not win New Jersey's electoral votes in the 2004 presidential election, but captured 46% of the statewide vote, compared to 40% in the 2000 race, and did win re-election.)

Almost immediately after McGreevey's announcement, New Jersey Republicans and Democrats alike called upon the governor not to wait until November to resign and instead to do so at once.[40][41] An editorial in the New York Times read, "Mr. McGreevey's strategy to delay resignation does not serve New Jersey residents well. The state will be led by an embattled governor mired in personal and legal problems for three months."[42]

On September 15, U.S. District Judge Garrett E. Brown, Jr. dismissed Afran v. McGreevey,[43] filed by Green Party lawyers Bruce Afran and Carl Mayers, dismissing their claim that the postponement of McGreevey's resignation had left a vacancy, thereby violating New Jersey residents' voting rights. Brown stated that McGreevey "clearly intends to hold office until November 15, 2004. The requirement of holding a special election does not arise. The rights of registered voters are not being violated."[44][45] Afran re-filed the same suit in Mercer County Superior Court and Judge Linda R. Feinberg heard arguments on October 4, 2004.

Fellow Democrat and New Jersey Senate President Richard Codey took office upon McGreevey's resignation[46] and served the remainder of the term until January 17, 2006.[47] At the time of McGreevey's resignation, the New Jersey State Constitution stipulated that the Senate president retains that position while serving as acting governor.[48]

The Confession

In September 2006, McGreevey published a memoir, written with assistance from ghostwriter David France.[49] The memoir was entitled The Confession.[50] McGreevey appeared on The Oprah Winfrey Show on September 19 to discuss and promote the book. It was the start of a two-month promotion of his memoir.[51]

In The Confession, McGreevey described the duality of his life before he came out as gay: "As glorious and meaningful as it would have been to have a loving and sound sexual experience with another man, I knew I'd have to undo my happiness step by step as I began chasing my dream of a public career and the kind of 'acceptable' life that went with it. So, instead, I settled for the detached anonymity of bookstores and rest stops – a compromise, but one that was wholly unfulfilling and morally unsatisfactory."[52]

Personal life

McGreevey's home in Plainfield, New Jersey.

McGreevey has a daughter Morag from his first marriage (1991-1997) to Canadian Karen Joan Schutz.[53] He has another daughter, Jacqueline, from his second marriage to Portuguese-born Dina Matos McGreevey.

Dina Matos and McGreevey separated after he came out of the closet, and in late 2005 McGreevey and Australian-American executive Mark O'Donnell began a relationship.[54] The two live in Plainfield, New Jersey.[2][55][56] McGreevey teaches ethics, law and leadership at Kean University in Union, New Jersey.[57][58]

McGreevey and O'Donnell regularly attend Saint Bartholomew's Episcopal Church in New York.[59] There McGreevey was received into the Episcopal Church (ECUSA) on Sunday, April 29, 2007. He has been accepted to General Theological Seminary, where he will pursue a Master of Divinity degree. This would be required if he pursued becoming an Episcopal priest.[60][61]

In her memoirs, Matos wrote that she would never have married McGreevey if she had known he was gay, nor would she have chosen to have a gay man to father her child.[62] On March 17, 2008, Theodore Pedersen, a former aide to McGreevey, claimed that from 1999 to 2001 he had a three-way affair with McGreevey and Matos, a statement later affirmed by email from McGreevey to the Associated Press.[62][63] In a statement to ABC News, Matos denied that a threesome ever took place.[64]

Divorce from Dina Matos

On March 14, 2007, the Associated Press reported that McGreevey was seeking custody of Jacqueline and filing for child support. Matos demanded $600,000 plus alimony. [65] The divorce trial started on May 6, 2008. [66] On 8 August, the divorce was granted. McGreevey received joint custody, and pays child support.[67] Matos was denied alimony.

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 Curry, Tom (2004-08-13). "McGreevey confession doesn't reveal all", MSNBC. Retrieved on 2008-03-10. 
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 "Powell's Books - The Confession by James Mcgreevey". Powell's Books. Retrieved on 2008-03-10.
  3. ↑ "McGreevey Talks To Oprah About His Coming Out", Associated Press, WCBS-TV (2006-09-12). Retrieved on 2008-08-10. 
  4. ↑ Halbfinger, David M (2001-11-07). "Man in the News; Flexibility in Victory; James Edward McGreevey"", The New York Times. Retrieved on 2008-03-10.  "Except for kindergarten, Mr. McGreevey was educated at two parochial schools: St. Joseph elementary school in Carteret, and St. Joseph High School in Metuchen. He spent three semesters at Catholic University in Washington before transferring to Columbia University, where he majored in political science and graduated in 1978. He received a law degree from Georgetown in 1981 and a master's in education from Harvard in 1982."
  5. ↑ "James McGreevey". NNDB. Retrieved on 2008-03-10.
  6. ↑ "James McGreevey Biography", American Entertainment Institute Speakers Bureau. Retrieved on 2008-08-10. 
  7. ↑ "McGreevey accused of 'smear campaign'", Associated Press, MSNBC (2004-08-13). Retrieved on 2008-03-10. 
  8. ↑ Cooper, Chet. "Interview with Governor McGreevey", ABILITY Magazine. 
  9. ↑ Preston, Jennifer (1997-08-05). "THE 1997 ELECTIONS: THE GOVERNOR; GIULIANI SWEEPS TO SECOND TERM AS MAYOR; WHITMAN HOLDS ON BY A RAZOR-THIN MARGIN", The New York Times. Retrieved on 2008-03-11. 
  10. ↑ Halbfinger, David M. (2001-08-07). "THE 2001 ELECTIONS: GOVERNOR; Democrat Vows to Alter Way 'Business Is Done in Trenton'", The New York Times. Retrieved on 2008-03-10. 
  11. ↑ Peterson, Iver (2004-02-29). "ON POLITICS; Is McGreevey Following In Florio's Footsteps?", The New York Times. Retrieved on 2008-03-11. 
  12. ↑ Halbfinger, David (2001-08-26). "ON POLITICS; One Pitches From Inside And the Other From Outside", The New York Times. Retrieved on 2008-03-10. 
  13. ↑ "New Jersey, Senate & Presidential Elections 2008 Results & Polls". NJ.com. Retrieved on 2008-03-10.
  14. ↑ "New Jersey November 2001 Off Year Election". TheGreenPapers.com. Retrieved on 2008-03-10.
  15. ↑ Kocieniewsky, David (2002-02-01). "McGreevey Says Republicans Enacted 'Fraudulent' Budget", The New York Times. Retrieved on 2008-03-10. 
  16. ↑ "New Jersey to Increase Nation's Highest Cigarette Tax--Again", National Association of Convenience Stores (2004-06-30). Retrieved on 2008-03-10. 
  17. ↑ Mansnerus, Laura (2004-04-30). "McGreevey Looks to Wealthy To Fix New Jersey Property Tax", The New York Times. Retrieved on 2008-03-10. 
  18. ↑ Campisi, Gloria (2007-05-03). "FATHER McGREEVEY?", The Philadelphia Times, VirtueOnline. Retrieved on 2008-03-10. 
  19. ↑ Kengor, Paul D. (2004-08-25). "Paul D. Kengor on Pro-Choice Catholic Politicians". National Review Online. Retrieved on 2008-03-10.
  20. ↑ Kocieniewsky, David (2004-05-06). "McGreevey Won't Receive Communion", The New York Times. Retrieved on 2008-03-10. 
  21. ↑ Kocieniewsky, David (2004-05-13). "McGreevey Signs Bill Creating Stem Cell Research Center", The New York Times. 
  22. ↑ "McGreevey Urges N.J. To Approve Gay Marriage Law", WNBC (2006-10-30). Retrieved on 2008-03-10. 
  23. ↑ Mansnerus, Laura (2004-01-09). "New Jersey To Recognize Gay Couples", The New York Times. Retrieved on 2008-03-10. 
  24. ↑ Mansnerus, Laura (2002-03-08). "After Angry Debate, Senate Confirms State Police Head", The New York Times. Retrieved on 2008-03-10. 
  25. ↑ Mansnerus, Laura (2004-09-23). "New Jersey Bars Contracts for Political Donors", The New York Times. Retrieved on 2008-03-10. 
  26. ↑ "McGreevey constructing bogus legacy", Associated Press (2004-09-26). Retrieved on 2008-03-10. 
  27. ↑ Peterson, Iver (2004-07-18). "ON POLITICS; When a Campaign Ledger Becomes a Target List", The New York Times. Retrieved on 2008-03-10. 
  28. ↑ "Machiavelli Lives in Trenton", The New York Times (2004-07-13). Retrieved on 2008-03-10. 
  29. ↑ Smothers, Ronald (2004-09-14). "BRIEFINGS: POLITICS; FUND-RAISER ADMITS FRAUD", The New York Times. Retrieved on 2008-03-10. 
  30. ↑ KOCIENIEWSKI, David (2002-03-04). "New Jersey Republicans See Shortsighted Cronyism in McGreevey's Appointments", The New York Times. Retrieved on 2008-03-10. 
  31. ↑ McGreevey, James (2006-09-18). "The Making of a Gay American", New York Magazine. Retrieved on 2008-03-10. 
  32. ↑ Kocieniewski, David (2002-08-15). "An Adviser to McGreevey Resigns", The New York Times. Retrieved on 2008-03-10. 
  33. ↑ Margolin, Josh (2002-03-08). "McGreevey reassigns his security adviser", The Star-Ledger. Retrieved on 2008-03-08. 
  34. ↑ Cloud, John (2004-08-23). "The Governor's Secret Life", Time Magazine. Retrieved on 2008-03-10. 
  35. ↑ "McGreevey: 'I am a gay American'", CNN (2004-08-13). Retrieved on 2008-03-10. 
  36. ↑ Kohen, Yael (2004-08-13). "McGREEVEY TO QUIT, DECLARES 'I AM A GAY AMERICAN'", The New York Sun. Retrieved on 2008-03-10. 
  37. ↑ "Columbia University Announces 2005 Pulitzer Prizes.", PR Newswire, April 4, 2005. Accessed December 23, 2007.
  38. ↑ "N.J. Governor: I'm Gay and I Quit", Associated Press, FOX News (2004-08-13). Retrieved on 2008-03-10. 
  39. ↑ Sabato, Larry J. (2004-08-16). "The McGreevey Matter - The impact on presidential politics". Retrieved on 2008-03-10. 
  40. ↑ Mansnerus, Laura; Kocieniewski, David (2004-08-13). "Ex-Aide Says He Was Victim of McGreevey", The New York Times. Retrieved on 2008-03-11. 
  41. ↑ Dewar, Helen; Garcia, Michelle (2004-08-18). "Democrats Press McGreevey to Quit", Washington Post. Retrieved on 2008-03-11. 
  42. ↑ The Governor's Secret, The New York Times, August 13, 2004
  43. ↑ Linstrum, Erik (2004-09-09). "Princeton-area lawyers file lawsuit against McGreevey", The Daily Princetonian. Retrieved on 2008-03-10. 
  44. ↑ "Judge won't order special N.J. election", Associated Press, USA Today (2004-09-15). 
  45. ↑ Mansnerus, Laura (2004-09-16). "Judge Dismisses Case Seeking a Vote to Replace McGreevey", The New York Times. Retrieved on 2008-03-10. 
  46. ↑ Mansnerus, Laura; Beston, Josh (2004-11-16). "Transition Ends: A Quiet Goodbye for McGreevey", The New York Times. Retrieved on 2008-03-10. 
  47. ↑ Jones, Richard Lezin; Benson, Josh (2006-01-11). "A Sentimental Last Address as a Temporary Governor", The New York Times. Retrieved on 2008-03-10. 
  48. ↑ "New Jersey State Constitution". njleg.state.nj.us. Retrieved on 2008-03-10.
  49. ↑ Kim, Richard (2006-09-29). "The passion of Jim McGreevey", Salon.com. Retrieved on 2008-03-10. 
  50. ↑ "Excerpts From ‘The Confession,’ McGreevey’s Autobiography", The New York Times (2006-09-17). Retrieved on 2008-03-11. 
  51. ↑ Two years after declaration, McGreevey finds stride as 'gay American' Associated Press, August 12, 2006.
  52. ↑ Benson, Wayne (2006-05-25). "McGreevey’s Confession", San Francisco Bay Times. Retrieved on 2008-03-11. 
  53. ↑ O'Donnell, Michelle; Collins, Glenn (2004-08-14). "THE GOVERNOR RESIGNS: THE WIVES; With Discretion, Two Women Stand By the Governor in His Time of Tribulation", The New York Times. Retrieved on 2008-03-10. 
  54. ↑ "A Governor's Confession: Love Conquers All", The Oprah Winfrey Show (2006-09-19). Retrieved on 2008-03-10. 
  55. ↑ Friedman, Alexi (2006-06-24). "A Plainfield mansion for McGreevey and partner", The Star-Ledger. Retrieved on 2008-03-11. 
  56. ↑ Capuzzo, Jill P (2007-03-18). "THE WEEK; Custody Dispute Derails McGreevey Settlement", The New York Times. Retrieved on 2008-03-11. 
  57. ↑ "Ex-N.J. Gov. McGreevey Now Teaches Ethics", Associated Press, CBS News (2007-04-19). Retrieved on 2008-03-11. 
  58. ↑ Gibson, Dave (2007-05-05). "New Jersey Parents Being Ripped Off By Gov. Jim McGreevey", American Daily. Retrieved on 2008-03-10. 
  59. ↑ McGreevey Explores Homosexuality in Memoir 1010-WINS, April 28, 2006
  60. ↑ "McGreevey applies for priesthood?", WABC (2007-05-02). Retrieved on 2008-03-10. 
  61. ↑ "McGreevey mulling Episcopal priesthood", The Star-Ledger blog (2007-05-02). Retrieved on 2008-03-10. 
  62. ↑ 62.0 62.1 MacIntosh, Jeanne (2008-03-17). "I Was McG and Wife's Three-way Sex Stud: Ex-driver", The New York Post. Retrieved on 2008-03-17. 
  63. ↑ Santi, Angels Delli (2008-03-17). "Gay Ex-Gov Claims Threesome Tryst", Associated Press, Google. Retrieved on 2008-03-17. 
  64. ↑ Baram, Marcus (2008-03-17). "McGreevey's Ex-Wife Denies Threesome Claims", ABC News. Retrieved on 2008-03-17. 
  65. ↑ "McGreevey Seeks Custody of Daughter", Associated Press, ABC News (2007-03-13). Retrieved on 2008-03-10. 
  66. ↑ wwsb.com, Gay ex-N.J. governor's divorce trial promises sordid details
  67. ↑ "Judge in N.J. grants McGreevey divorce, orders ex-governor to pay child support but no alimony", Associated Press, Chicago Tribune (2008-08-08). Retrieved on 2008-08-08. 

External links

Political offices
Preceded by
Richard Codey (acting)		 Governor of New Jersey
January 15, 2002–November 15, 2004		 Succeeded by
Richard Codey
Party political offices
Preceded by
James Florio		 Democratic Nominee for Governor of New Jersey
1997, 2001		 Succeeded by
Jon Corzine
Governors of New Jersey
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 State seal of New Jersey
Persondata
NAME McGreevey, James E.
ALTERNATIVE NAMES McGreevey, Jim
SHORT DESCRIPTION Governor of New Jersey
DATE OF BIRTH August 6, 1957
PLACE OF BIRTH Jersey City, New Jersey
DATE OF DEATH
PLACE OF DEATH