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Richard Codey, the erstwhile politician of New Jersey and the state's longest-serving lawmaker, died aboriginal Sunday morning, his household announced.
Codey died peacefully astatine his location aft a little illness. He was 79.
"Our household has mislaid a beloved husband, begetter and gramps -- and New Jersey mislaid a singular nationalist servant who touched the lives of each who knew him," the household said successful a Facebook post.
Codey, a Democrat, became acting politician of the Garden State pursuing the resignation of Gov. Jim McGreevey successful Nov. 2004. He served retired the remainder of McGreevey's term, which ended successful 2006.
Acting New Jersey Governor Richard J. Codey speaks during a quality league astatine the Statehouse successful Trenton, New Jersey, connected Friday, April 13, 2007.
Jeff Zelevansky/Bloomberg via Getty Images
"He lived his beingness with humility, compassion and a heavy consciousness of work to others. He spoke the information erstwhile others wouldn't and fought tirelessly for the radical of New Jersey during his record-setting 50 years successful the Legislature. He made friends arsenic easy with Presidents arsenic helium did with strangers successful all-night diners," his household said.
Codey was archetypal elected to the New Jersey State Legislature successful 1973 arsenic an assemblyman representing communities successful Essex and Morris counties. He served arsenic a authorities legislator from 1984 until his retirement in 2024. He had returned to the authorities legislature erstwhile his word arsenic politician ended.
Gov. Phil Murphy, Gov.-elect Mikie Sherrill laud Codey
"If anybody embodied our arrogant New Jersey values, it was Governor Dick Codey," Gov. Phil Murphy said successful a statement, successful part. "He proved that each azygous time of his life. Whether arsenic Governor oregon arsenic the longest-serving lawmaker successful New Jersey history, Dick built a safer, healthier aboriginal for each of us. From championing backing for intelligence wellness attraction and stem compartment probe to advancing smoke-free indoor spaces successful New Jersey, Dick protected each 1 of our communities and sought to cultivate the imaginable of each 1 of our neighbors.
Gov.-elect Mikie Sherrill said Codey was the genuine nonfiction successful each way.
"Today, our authorities mislaid a person and a large nationalist servant successful Governor Dick Codey. As governor, successful the assembly, and successful the authorities senate, helium utilized his powerfulness to grow intelligence wellness resources, instrumentality stronger weapon information laws to support communities, and bolster substance maltreatment attraction and prevention programs. He genuinely cared astir the radical helium served," Sherrill said.
"I americium fortunate to telephone Governor Codey a mentor and a friend. He was determination from the opening erstwhile I decided to tally for Congress, and again erstwhile I decided to tally for governor, and I volition ever transportation with maine his heavy content that the aboriginal of our authorities is worthy warring for. I'm sending my deepest condolences to his wife, children, and grandchildren whom helium loved dearly. Governor Codey volition beryllium sorely missed," she added.
U.S. Sen. Andy Kim, others bespeak connected Codey's legacy
"Dick Codey understood the value of service, particularly erstwhile it was unexpected. He was driven by his values and utilized that thrust to marque our authorities a amended place. His bequest is 1 we're each a portion of and we each payment from," Kim said in a station connected X.
Essex County Executive Joseph N. DiVincenzo Jr. besides offered his condolences to Codey's family.
"Richard Codey was a salient fig successful Essex County and New Jersey for implicit a fractional period ... I respected Dick for his quality to get things done and however helium ever was a staunch advocator for his constituents. I americium gladsome that we dedicated Codey Arena successful his grant successful 2005 portion helium was live truthful that helium could spot however overmuch radical appreciated him and the interaction helium had," DiVincenzo said.
The Union County Board of Commissioners said Codey "devoted his beingness to nationalist service, spending decades advocating for the radical of New Jersey with integrity, compassion, and an unwavering committedness to doing what was close — peculiarly for those who were astir vulnerable. His leadership, humility, and courageousness near a lasting people connected our authorities and acceptable an illustration for generations of nationalist servants."
Codey's household said accusation astir his services volition beryllium shared successful the coming days.
Christine Sloan contributed to this report.
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