TRENTON — Call it Jim McGreevey's last stand.
When Gov. McGreevey made his stunning resignation announcement on Aug. 12, he stepped through the looking glass into uncharted territory for a politician of his stature.
McGreevey is the first openly gay chief executive of a state, and barring any new revelations, he has nearly three months to exercise his still formidable powers as he sees fit.
He is unfettered by concern about reelection, and he has withstood an attempt by powerful Democratic Party bosses to force him out of office early to allow for a special election in November.
At the height of the ouster effort, State Sen. Raymond J. Lesniak (D., Union), a close friend of McGreevey's, said the governor told him: "They can cut my heart out and drag my body through the streets of Trenton, and I still won't leave early."
So, unless developments dictate otherwise, McGreevey is still in charge for the next 86 days.
According to a tentative agenda outlined by his aides, McGreevey will spend much of his time promoting familiar themes to solidify his legacy: cleaner environment, economic development, lower auto insurance rates and, apparently, campaign finance changes.
The New York Times reported yesterday that the governor has directed his staff to see whether he could issue an executive order tightening restrictions on campaign donors. Such an order would remain in place until another governor revoked it.
Depending on the scope of the order, the move might be seen as an attempt by McGreevey to restrict the power of the party bosses who helped put him in office and are now trying to get him out.
According to the Times, the measure under consideration would address Trenton's "pay to play" culture by barring corporations and individuals doing business with the state from contributing to campaigns or political parties. Legislation passed earlier this year bars contributions from those receiving no-bid contracts.
With the exception of a short commentary piece he wrote for USA Today, McGreevey has not spoken publicly since he announced that he is a "gay American," and there is no plan for him to do so.
"It's been an extraordinary time for the governor, and we're literally taking that day by day," said Kathleen Ellis, McGreevey's director of communications.
As remarkable as the recent turn of events has been, McGreevey's aides are not discounting the possibility that more unwanted disclosures lurk in the political landscape.
