Richard Codey | |
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53rd Governor of New Jersey | |
In office November 15, 2004 – January 17, 2006 |
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Preceded by | Jim McGreevey |
Succeeded by | Jon Corzine |
Governor of New Jersey Acting |
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In office January 12, 2002 – January 15, 2002 |
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Preceded by | John Bennett (Acting) |
Succeeded by | Jim McGreevey (Governor) |
President of the New Jersey Senate | |
In office January 8, 2008 – January 12, 2010 |
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Preceded by | Bernard Kenny |
Succeeded by | Stephen Sweeney |
In office January 8, 2002 – January 7, 2008 Co-Presidency with John Bennett until January 13, 2004 |
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Preceded by | Donald DiFrancesco |
Succeeded by | Bernard Kenny |
Member of the New Jersey Senate from the 27th district |
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Assumed office January 12, 1982 |
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Preceded by | Carmen Orechio |
Member of the New Jersey General Assembly from the 26th district |
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In office January 8, 1974 – January 12, 1982 |
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Preceded by | District created |
Succeeded by |
Leanna Brown Dean Gallo |
Personal details | |
Born |
Richard James Codey November 27, 1946 Orange, New Jersey, U.S. |
Political party | Democratic |
Spouse(s) | Mary Rolli (1981-present) |
Alma mater | Fairleigh Dickinson University |
Richard James Codey (born November 27, 1946) is an American Democratic Party politician who served as the Governor of New Jersey from 2004 to 2006. He has served in the New Jersey Senate since 1982 and served as the President of the Senate from 2002 to 2010. He represents the 27th Legislative District, which covers the western portions of Essex County and the southeastern portion of Morris County. Codey is the longest-serving state legislator in New Jersey history, having served in the New Jersey Legislature continuously since January 8, 1974.
Codey grew up in his family's funeral home in Orange and graduated from Oratory Preparatory School in Summit. He went on to take over his father's job as a licensed funeral director. When his father, Donald, became the county coroner, Richard was drafted to help with death scene pickups. Codey remembered, "I was 14, taking bodies out of train wrecks. You grow up quick." Codey has described himself as "100% Irish".
Codey left the funeral trade to try his hand in politics in 1973 when he was first elected to the State Assembly, with Eldridge Hawkins as his running mate. He served in the Assembly from 1974 to 1982. In 1981 he earned a bachelor's degree in education from Fairleigh Dickinson University. Codey was elected to the State Senate that same year and has since risen through the ranks to become Senate President. He first ascended to that post in 2002 to 2010. He serves in the Senate on the Legislative Services Commission. He also has a hockey arena named in his honor, also known as South Mountain Arena in West Orange, New Jersey.