State of New Jersey
Executive Order #35

Governor James E. McGreevey

WHEREAS, Assemblyman Melvin Cottrell, a devoted family man, dedicated many years in public service to the people of the State of New Jersey; and

WHEREAS, Assemblyman Cottrell served the residents of Ocean County as Assistant Superintendent of Public Property; and

WHEREAS, Assemblyman Cottrell held public office in Jackson Township from 1986 to 1991 as a member of the Township Committee, and served as Mayor during 1988 and 1989; and

WHEREAS, Assemblyman Cottrell was elected to the General Assembly in 1992 and was a respected member of that House, where he served on the Family Women and Children's Services and as a former Chair of the Senior Issues Committees; and

WHEREAS, Assemblyman Cottrell sponsored laws amending the State's murder statute to permit the display of a murder victim's photograph at the sentencing phase of a murder trial and amending the Consumer Fraud Act to impose stronger penalties against those who defraud senior citizens; and

WHEREAS, it is with deep sadness that we mourn the loss of Assemblyman Cottrell and extend our sincerest sympathy to his family and friends; and

WHEREAS, it is fitting and appropriate to honor the memory and the passing of Assemblyman Cottrell;

NOW, THEREFORE, I, JAMES E. McGREEVEY, Governor of the State of New Jersey, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the Constitution and by the Statutes of this State, do hereby ORDER and DIRECT:

  1. The flag of the United States of America and the flag of the State of New Jersey shall be flown at half-staff at all State departments, offices, agencies and instrumentalities during appropriate hours on Friday, October 18, 2002 in recognition and mourning of the passing of Assemblyman Cottrell.

  2. This Order shall take effect immediately.


GIVEN, under my hand and seal this 16th day of October in the Year of Our Lord, Two Thousand and Two, and of the Independence of the United States, the Two Hundred and Twenty-Seventh.

/s/ James E. McGreevey

Governor

[seal]

Attest:

/s/ Paul A. Levinsohn

Chief Counsel to the Governor