*** Welcome to piglix ***

Richard J. Codey

Richard Codey
Codey2011 (cropped).jpg
53rd Governor of New Jersey
In office
November 15, 2004 – January 17, 2006
Preceded by Jim McGreevey
Succeeded by Jon Corzine
Governor of New Jersey
Acting
In office
January 12, 2002 – January 15, 2002
Preceded by John Bennett (Acting)
Succeeded by Jim McGreevey (Governor)
President of the New Jersey Senate
In office
January 8, 2008 – January 12, 2010
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
Preceded by Donald DiFrancesco
Succeeded by Bernard Kenny
Member of the New Jersey Senate
from the 27th district
Assumed office
January 12, 1982
Preceded by Carmen Orechio
Member of the New Jersey General Assembly
from the 26th district
In office
January 8, 1974 – January 12, 1982
Preceded by District created
Succeeded by Leanna Brown
Dean Gallo
Personal details
Born Richard James Codey
(1946-11-27) November 27, 1946 (age 70)
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.


...
Wikipedia

...