A genuine people-person who loved his home state and ably stepped up to take the executive helm in a crisis, New Jersey Governor Richard J. Codey of Essex County – the state’s longest-serving state lawmaker – has died.
He was 79.
A proud son of the City of Orange, a political professional with a twinkle in his eye and populist demeanor, Richard Codey, Democrat, restored trust to the office when he served as the 53rd Governor of New Jersey for 14 months following the resignation of James McGreevey.
His kind and personable manner touched many lives. While naturally disposed to work with others and look for common ground, Governor Codey routinely stood up to powerful figures, both in his own party and across the aisle. In 2008, he bucked the Democratic Party establishment when he joined the Obama Presidential movement. A compromiser and dealmaker, he was also courageous in his pursuit of justice, especially for the weak and the vulnerable.
From his statewide perch, Governor Codey led New Jersey in the area of mental health research and awareness. Throughout the years subsequent, he consistently advocated for mentally ill and mentally at-risk New Jerseyans…