Jim McGreevey

James Edward "Jim" McGreevey (born August 6, 1957) is an American Democratic politician. He served as the Governor of New Jersey from January 15, 2002 until November 15, 2004, when he resigned three months after admitting that he had had an extramarital affair with a male employee. He was the first and, to date, the only openly gay state governor in American history.

Career

McGreevey was born in Jersey City and attended St. Joseph's High School in Metuchen. He attended The Catholic University of America before graduating from Columbia University in 1978 and later earned a law degree from the Georgetown University Law Center in 1981 and a master's degree in education from Harvard University in 1982. McGreevey was a member of the New Jersey State Assembly from 1990 to 1992, when he became Mayor of Woodbridge, New Jersey. He was re-elected mayor in 1995 and 1999. He was elected to the State 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%-46%) by the incumbent Republican, Christine Todd Whitman, with Libertarian candidate Murray Sabrin taking slightly over 5% of the vote. McGreevey ran for the governorship again in 2001 and won. His Republican opponent in that race was Bret Schundler, who began to campaign after Donald DiFrancesco dropped out of the race due to allegations of corruption.

Related Topics:
Jersey City - Metuchen - The Catholic University of America - Columbia University - 1978 - Law degree - Georgetown University Law Center - 1981 - Master's degree - Harvard University - 1982 - Woodbridge, New Jersey - 1997 - Republican - Christine Todd Whitman - Libertarian - 2001 - Bret Schundler - Donald DiFrancesco

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After being elected to the governorship on his second try (on November 6, 2001), McGreevey inherited a $5 billion budget deficit. During his term McGreevey fought tax increases for most residents of the state, though he did eventually raise the tax on cigarettes and increased the state tax rate for the very wealthy.

Related Topics:
November 6 - 2001 - $ - Budget deficit - Tax - Cigarette

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McGreevey is a Roman Catholic of Irish descent. Due to his pro-choice stance on abortion, he stated as governor that he would not receive Communion at public church services. This decision came after a request by Newark Archbishop John J. Myers for pro-choice supporters to not seek communion when they attended mass. He is committed to the separation of church and state, having said that he believes "it's a false choice in America between one's faith and constitutional obligation."http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,119140,00.html McGreevey implemented a stem cell research plan for New Jersey, and heavily lobbied for the state's first domestic partnership law for same-sex couples, which he signed into law in early 2004, prior to his own coming out as a gay man.

Related Topics:
Roman Catholic - Irish - Pro-choice - Abortion - Communion - Newark - Archbishop - Mass - Separation of church and state - Stem cell research - Domestic partnership

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McGreevey has one daughter from his first marriage to Kari Schutz, which ended in divorce, and one daughter from his second marriage to Dina Matos.

Related Topics:
Marriage - Divorce

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