That experience was an early step toward Lance's legislative career, which has been marked by an intense interest in clean government, finances, and a scholar's understanding of the rules of governance, a legacy from his father, who had helped craft the state constitution.
When Lance talks about the twin issues of clean government and low taxes he will hit in the election, his supporters say he speaks from solid ground.
He has worked hard on both.
Soon after being appointed to the Assembly in 1991, he quit his family's law practice because "I was personally uncomfortable with it," he said.
When former Gov. James E. McGreevey resigned under a swirl of criminal investigations into some of his closest associates, his successor, Democratic Senate President Richard Codey, chose Lance to swear him in to signal to voters that he would rehabilitate the image of the governor's office.
Codey recalled his thinking back in 2004. "We had the McGreevey scandal. I wanted to show I was going to be bipartisan, open to everyone, and he has such a great reputation for integrity that I thought he was a perfect choice."
Contact staff writer Cynthia Burton at 856-779-3858 or cburton@phillynews.com.
