Goodbye, Hello From McGreevey
Is it the end of a political road, a beginning of a new sort of political career, or a bit of both?
New Jersey Gov. James McGreevey, who stunned the nation in August with the disclosure that he is gay and would resign from his post, is giving another big speech.
This one, Monday afternoon, is billed as his farewell address as governor of New Jersey.
The New Jersey democrat, whose resignation is to take effect on Nov. 15, is likely to use Monday's speech to highlight the accomplishments of a term cut short by scandal.
Senate President Richard J. Codey, a fellow Democrat, will be taking over as acting governor, serving the remaining 14 months of McGreevey's term.
Though details of McGreevey's speech have not been revealed, the New Jersey Democrat is expected to stress his success in championing stem cell research, obtaining benefits for domestic partners and instituting reforms at the state's troubled child welfare agency and motor vehicles division.
While political observers credit McGreevey with some gains over the past two years, they also note some lingering troubles that have nothing to do with his personal life.
A deficit looms for the next budget year, and the current budget was balanced using borrowed money, a practice the state Supreme Court has declared off limits for future spending plans.
Even before the sex scandal driving him from office became public Aug. 12, McGreevey was dogged by associations with campaign contributors who ran afoul of federal authorities.
Since the scandal, McGreevey attempted to reclaim the ethical high ground with an executive order in September to ban the practice of giving government contracts to those who contribute to political campaigns. Proposals to halt the practice known as "pay-to-play" are pending in the Legislature.
Other accomplishments include an increase in caseworker staffing and policy changes designed to improve oversight by the Division of Youth and Family Services, which made headlines and drew sharp criticism for a series of lapses in its supervision of children.
McGreevey spokeswoman Kathy Ellis says the speech will highlight after-school and community college programs undertaken by his administration, as well as "a number of environmental accomplishments - tougher air and water regulations and the creation of a number of state parks."
Without offering any details, longtime McGreevey confidant State Sen. Raymond Lesniak says McGreevey is now focusing on the next phase of his life, including public service, "which he'll announce shortly."
McGreevey, who is only 47, spent about 15 years in elective office in New Jersey - serving in both houses of the state legislature, and as mayor of Woodbridge, the state's sixth largest city. Like many lawmakers, he has a law degree - from Georgetown; unlike many, he also has a master's in education - from Harvard.
Lesniak also says he believes the public's mixed views of McGreevey "will change as time goes on, as his accomplishments become more recognized."
Republicans, who called for McGreevey to immediately step down upon his August disclosure, were less kind.
"It has been a sorry era for New Jersey, both in terms of ethics and abuses of incumbency," said state Sen. Joseph Kyrillos, chairman of the state Republican Party.
McGreevey was sharply criticized by Republicans for giving himself three months to clear out of office - longer than the transition given to presidents - but steadfastly refuse to pack his bags any earlier than this month.
But he's more than ready to move on now, according to The Star-Ledger, which reports he asked Codey last week if he could quit the governor's office a week earlier than he'd planned.
That offer was reportedly rejected.
McGreevey is experiencing more humble living conditions for the first time in a number of years.
The Ledger reports he moved out of the governor's mansion on Thursday and rented a two-bedroom apartment in the town of Rahway, N.J. - not too long a drive from the Springfield, N.J., new home of his estranged wife and their young daughter.