Jim McGreevey

James Edward McGreevey (born August 6, 1957) is an American politician who served as the 52nd governor of New Jersey from 2002 until his resignation in 2004.

He attended The Catholic University of America before graduating from Columbia University in 1978.

He earned a Juris Doctor from the Georgetown University Law Center in 1981 and a master's degree in education from Harvard University in 1982.

He also attended a summer diploma program in law at the London School of Economics.

Prior to entering politics, McGreevey was an assistant prosecutor and executive director of the state Parole Board.

McGreevey has taught ethics, law and leadership at Kean University in Union, New Jersey.

McGreevey served in the New Jersey General Assembly from 1990 to 1992, as the 19th mayor of Woodbridge Township from 1991 to 2002, and in the New Jersey Senate from 1994 to 1998.

McGreevey was a member of the New Jersey General Assembly, representing the 19th Legislative District from 1990 to 1992, when he became Mayor of Woodbridge Township, New Jersey.

He was elected to the New Jersey Senate in 1993, simultaneously serving as mayor during the four-year Senate term.

He was re-elected mayor in 1995 and 1999.

He was the Democratic nominee for Governor of New Jersey in 1997, but was narrowly defeated by Republican incumbent Christine Todd Whitman.

McGreevey 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.

McGreevey met Golan Cipel in Israel during a trip there in 2000.

He ran for governor again in 2001 and was elected by a large margin.

During his gubernatorial tenure, McGreevey—who was then married to Dina Matos—appointed Israeli national Golan Cipel as Counselor to the Governor, advising on homeland security.

McGreevey ran for the governorship again in 2001 and won with 56% of the vote, making him the first majority-elected governor since James Florio.

His Republican opponent in that race was Bret Schundler.

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).

After being elected to the governorship by a large margin on November 6, 2001, McGreevey inherited a US$5 billion budget deficit.

During his term, McGreevey raised the tax on cigarettes and increased the state income tax for the wealthy.

Raised as a Roman Catholic but maintaining a pro-choice stance on abortion, he stated as governor that he would not receive Communion at public church services.

Cipel relocated to the United States to work for McGreevey's 2001 gubernatorial campaign as a liaison to the Jewish community.

In 2002, following his election as governor, McGreevey appointed Cipel as Counselor to the Governor at a salary of $110,000.

Members of the Legislature questioned the appointment, and it was criticized because Cipel was unqualified for the position.

In addition, Cipel could not obtain a security approval from the federal government, as he was Israeli and not a U.S.

citizen; therefore, the FBI and the Secret Service would not provide him with intelligence.

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."

McGreevey assisted Cipel in obtaining a townhouse near McGreevey's home.

On August 12, 2004, following threats of a sexual harassment lawsuit from Cipel, McGreevey publicly acknowledged his homosexuality and stated that he had engaged in an extramarital relationship; he also announced that he would resign the governorship effective November 15, 2004.

Among McGreevey's accomplishments were auto insurance reform, restructuring the Division of Motor Vehicles to the Motor Vehicle Commission, signing the Highlands Water Protection and Planning Act into law, implementing a stem cell research plan for New Jersey, heavily lobbying for the state's first domestic partnership law for same-sex couples and signing such a law in early 2004.

In 2006, following his departure from public office, McGreevey published a memoir entitled The Confession.

He later pursued ordination in the Episcopal Church and obtained a Master of Divinity (M.Div.) degree from General Theological Seminary in New York City; however, the Episcopal Church declined to ordain him.

In July 2013, McGreevey was appointed head of Jersey City's Employment & Training Program (JCETP).

He served in that capacity until his 2019 termination.

McGreevey serves as Executive Director of the New Jersey Reentry Corporation.

McGreevey was born in Jersey City, the son of Veronica, a nurse, and Jack McGreevey, a Marine drill instructor who served in World War II and the Korean War.

His family was Irish Catholic, and he grew up in nearby Carteret.

There he attended St. Joseph Elementary School, and St. Joseph High School in Metuchen.