Jim McGreevey, the 52nd Governor of New Jersey and now a candidate for Jersey City mayor, invited me to his home to have a sit-down interview with HudPost. Inside his Jersey City residence, we spoke about his upbringing in Hudson County, the lessons he has learned from a life in public service, and why he believes now is the right time to return to elected office.
“I was born in Hudson County at Margaret Hague Hospital,” he said. “My grandparents came from Ireland and settled here. I remember my grandmother saying, ‘I saw the Statue of Liberty and I knew we were safe.’ For us, Jersey City was sacred soil. It was a place where parents could do better for their children.”
McGreevey’s early years were rooted in working-class values and service. His mother was a charge nurse at the old Jersey City Medical Center. His father, a Marine drill instructor, worked in the transportation industry. “He was tough, but he had a gift for people,” McGreevey said. “I like to think I was blessed with both his people skills and my mother’s compassion.”…