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Dick Codey: The New Jersey Suburban Everyman Who Calmed the Waters

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By Alex Thompson — Chief Editor Updated January 12, 2026

Dick Codey: The New Jersey Suburban Everyman Who Calmed the Waters

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Original Text with Corrections & Annotations

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Parsippany,July 16,2008 -- Michael Wojtyszyn,a Greystone resident,answers questions about the new hospital and moving day as Senate president Richard Codey stands by. Codey was on hand for moving day as Greystone patients moved into the new hospital. they stand on the steps of the new hospital.

But few seemed to notice. His wisecracking, guy-at-the-supermarket style connected with voters. He was a governor they seemed to relate to, a survivor of the rough-and-tumble of Essex County politics, who didn’t get pushed around and who appeared to put the interests of average New Jerseyans first. By the time he left office, he enjoyed a 71% approval rating, according to the Quinnipiac poll.

There was some discussion of running for his own full term once McGreevey’s concluded, but the Democratic Party barons were drawn to Corzine, the wealthy former Goldman Sachs chairman who was serving in the U.S. Senate. Codey coudl not muster the money to compete.

“So I went around to different chairmen and stuff. So, you know, he [Corzine] was giving them whatever he could give them.I don’t know whether it was $50,000 or $75,000 a year he could give and other things, which I couldn’t do,” he told Eagleton. “So a lot of them lined up with him.”

And he was also wary of the brutal statewide battle with his intra-party foes,namely George E. Norcross III,the South Jersey power broker,who was in a constant feud with Codey. A mere mention of Norcross’ name would frequently enough send Codey into tirades, but Norcross was also at the apex of his power back then, with alliances throughout North Jersey, including in Codey’s own backyard.

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About the author: Alex Thompson — Chief Editor

Veteran journalist with 25 years. Alex has overseen Pulitzer‑shortlisted investigations and built cross‑platform newsrooms on three continents. At AchyNewsy.com he sets editorial standards, champions data‑driven storytelling, and ensures every desk meets rigorous fact‑checking protocols. Alex Thompson directs AchyNewsy.com’s global coverage, fusing investigative depth with real‑time reporting for unmatched journalistic impact.