NJ Governor Defends Drawing Out Resignation

Today's New York Times editorial page includes a letter from James McGreevey, the governor of New Jersey who admitted last week that (1) he is gay and (2) he had an affair with a male staffer, whom he had been showing considerable patronage to and (3) that he had made himself a target of blackmail over the whole thing. The governor defends his decision to delay his resignation until November 15, a move which his critics on both sides are saying is simply a move to avoid a special election which might not favor his friends.

First, there are immediate public policy considerations and actions, which need to be completed. Simply put, there are demands and projects which need to be addressed and put in place now....The second major reason is that our 1947 state constitution establishes the Senate president as the official who would succeed a governor in an unexpired term. I acknowledge that the constitution would permit a special election to occur if I were to resign at or about the first week of September. But the constitution does not outline provisions or state requirements for the timing of a resignation. While the constitution does provide the mechanism for an election, the decision of when to make that resignation effective is a personal one.

In other words, (1) I want to pass a few more laws before I go (even though the legislature is sure to prevent any lame-duck legislation from going thru) and (2) no one can force me to leave. Now, I will admit I have never liked or trusted Mr. McGreevey. But doesn't this sound more like a cranky 5-year-old than a statesman?