“It is impossible to imagine what New Jersey would look like today without the visionary, dedicated, and principled leadership of Governor Dick Codey. For nearly 50 years, Gov. Codey has served our state—as a member of the Assembly, the Senate, and as New Jersey’s 53rd Governor—with integrity and kindness. And he has always—always—stood up for the children and families who call the Garden State home. Look no further than Gov. Codey’s long record of accomplishments when it comes to strengthening public health—including increasing funding for mental health care, championing stem cell research, and establishing the State’s Charity Care Program. Outside of the legislature, Gov. Codey has also been a role model for generations of New Jerseyans—as a coach for youth basketball teams, as a mentor for first-generation college students, and as a funeral director—a position in which his courtesy and compassion has lifted the spirits of seemingly countless families navigating grief and loss.  I will deeply miss seeing Gov. Codey in the State House, but above all, I am grateful for his many decades of service. And I will always remember how he took a chance on me back during the cold, dark and lonely days of my first run for office. Tammy and I send our love to Gov. Codey, Mary Jo, and their two sons, Kevin and Christopher.”