Politics & Government

Dick Codey Recounts Path to Governor's Office

Codey: 'As governor you have have to be a gentleman.'

Former governor and current state Sen. Dick Codey took a break from Trenton Thursday to attend a book signing at the Freehold Barnes & Noble.

Approximately 100 people came to hear Codey discuss everything from his unlikely path to the governorship to hanging out with Jay-Z and Beyonce. In his new book, Me, Governor?, Codey recounts his experiences growing up the son of a funeral director in Orange and his years in the rough and tumble world of New Jersey politics.

“He’s a breath of fresh air,” said Freehold Township Committeeman Anthony Ammiano, who has known Codey for years.

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During his book tour, Codey has come to run into number of old friends and acquaintances. His Freehold stop proved no different.

“You see a lot of people who moved down from North Jersey. People say, ‘My family lived near your family.’ One lady said my family buried her husband,” Codey said.

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The former governor counts his background growing up in the funeral business as one of the reasons New Jersey residents responded favorably to him during his time in office.

“It comes from being born and raised on top of a funeral home. Everybody dies so you come to learn about different types of people,” he said.

Possessing that empathy is key to being an effective governor, according to Codey.

“I think as governor you have to be a gentleman. You have to know how to treat people,” he said.

During his bookstore events, Codey has fielded dozens of questions about what’s happening in New Jersey government and politics. The one question that keeps popping up again and again?

“Everybody keeps asking if I’m running for governor,” he said. Codey waves away thoughts of 2013. “I’m just trying to sell books.”


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