Richard Codey Is Retiring From NJ Senate: ‘A Tough Day For Me’

ESSEX COUNTY, NJ — Richard Codey is saying farewell to the New Jersey Legislature.

Codey, a former governor of New Jersey, has been serving as a state lawmaker for more than 50 years. He is currently a senator in the 27th District, which includes Livingston, Millburn, Montclair, Roseland and West Orange in Essex County, and Clifton in Passaic County.

Codey, 76, announced his upcoming retirement on Monday.

“I'm not gonna lie, this is a tough day for me,” he wrote. “An emotional day. But here it is: After a half-century in the Legislature, it's time for me to say goodbye. My service to the state of New Jersey and its great people will end when this legislative session concludes at the end of the year.”

Codey recently emerged victorious in the 2023 primary election against another Democratic Party lawmaker, Sen. Nia Gill. The clash between the two Democratic senators was a result of mandatory redistricting that takes place every 10 years.

Several towns were shifted to nearby districts – including the 27th – which added Montclair and Clifton, but lost Caldwell, Chatham Township, East Hanover, Essex Fells, Florham Park, Hanover, Harding, Madison, Maplewood and South Orange.

• See Related: NJ-27 Primary Election Results: Codey v. Gill, Assembly Races

Those who were cheering for Codey in this year’s general election will apparently have to find another candidate to support, according to the lawmaker’s statement, which follows below:

“Now, listen, before you get any ideas, no, I am not dying … but if you or someone you know is, please call Codey Funeral Home in Caldwell or Codey & Mackey in Boonton. (What, you thought I was gonna stop telling jokes on this of all days?)

“Seriously, it has been an incredible run and I’m lucky and grateful to have my health. I won my first race in November of 1973 and was sworn in the following January, making it a perfect 50-year circle we’re closing.

“I’ve been your Assemblyman, your Senator and your Governor. Now, it’s time to trade all those trips to Trenton for more time as a husband, father and grandpa. I’ll still be running my businesses — an insurance agency and those funeral homes — but I’m ready for something different.

“Why?

“Because it’s time.

“Time to step aside and watch the next generation do their thing.

“I'm forever grateful for the opportunity to have served the people of this state, especially those of you in the City of Orange and my neighbors in Essex and Morris counties. I'm grateful for the friendships I have made with my colleagues. And I'm grateful for the love, support and patience of my family, especially my wife, Mary Jo, and my sons, Kevin and Christopher.

“The people have always been the best part of every job I’ve had. I was born and raised in a funeral home, and that life taught me lessons that served me well as I served you.

“How to listen. How to be compassionate. How to help.

“I'm proud of the work I've done in the Legislature — as New Jersey’s longest-serving legislator — and during my time as New Jersey’s 53rd governor.

“I’ve fought to pass laws that matter to all New Jerseyans, especially people who don’t always have a voice or the ability to be heard. From mental health and addiction services to bans on indoor smoking and championing our toughest-in-the-nation gun laws. I've fought for who and what I believe in, even when it wasn't easy. I've made lifelong friends and lifelong enemies -- and I’m proud of both lists!

“As I prepare to step away, please know you all gave me a lifetime of rewards big and small. I loved speaking with people and helping people, even when a staffer or a State Trooper was pushing me out a door toward another commitment.

“That’s the thing about funeral directors and legislators. They’re always on the job, and you can’t allow yourself to be pushed out a door when people are hurting or need someone to hear them. I have always loved listening to you.

“Some of my best memories — my dearest memories — are wandering into a diner late at night after a legislative session or a basketball game. So often I’d meet someone who recognized me and wanted to know if I could help. I’d order a piece of lemon meringue pie and pick at it while I listened. You can’t believe the connections and friendships I forged over lemon meringue pie.

“Those connections are why I will stay deeply engaged in the community.

“Fifty years is a long time. I have seen a lot of changes in the Legislature and the governor’s office. But one thing that hasn't changed is the importance of public service. Public service is about making a difference in the lives of people. It's about working together to create a better future for everyone.

“I’ll miss that — the hope and promise of doing something great for people every day.

“And I’ll miss you — the people who voted for me and the people who didn’t. You made me better as a legislator and as a person.

“So after 50 years, let me say this: There can be no greater privilege than representing people who trust you as you have trusted me.”

“God Bless you all.”

FAREWELLS FOR CODEY

Gov. Phil Murphy offered Codey a farewell salute on Monday.

"For nearly 50 years, [Codey] has served our state—as a member of the Assembly, the Senate, and as New Jersey’s 53rd governor—with integrity and kindness," Murphy said. "And he has always—always—stood up for the children and families who call the Garden State home."

"Outside of the legislature, [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," Murphy added.

"I will deeply miss seeing [Codey] in the State House, but above all, I am grateful for his many decades of service," the governor said.

Assemblyman John McKeon was one of the lawmakers who praised Codey on Monday, calling him a “dedicated public servant.” McKeon wrote:

“Governor Codey's contributions, integrity, and profound commitment to the betterment of New Jersey stand as a beacon of inspiration for all future public servants. His unwavering dedication to our great state, spanning half a century, is a testament to his passion. His impactful legislative achievements have significantly improved the lives of countless New Jerseyans and have left an indelible mark on the fabric of New Jersey politics. Governor Codey's advocacy for mental health awareness and support has set a transformative course for our state. His tireless efforts have led to enhanced accessibility to mental health services, reducing stigma and nurturing a more compassionate society.”

“The governor’s accessibility and willingness to listen have created a bond of trust between him and the people he served for so long,” McKeon continued. “Governor Codey's retirement indeed marks the end of an era in New Jersey politics, but his legacy will continue to inspire and shape the state's future for years to come.”

Assemblywoman Mila Jasey said Codey is a "New Jersey icon."

"[Codey's] contributions to our state over the past half-century as governor and senator have left an indelible mark and made him one of the most well-known and well-respected of all of our state’s elected officials," said Jasey, who announced her own retirement plans earlier this year.

"[Former Governor Codey’s] retirement follows 50 continuous years of public service," Jasey added. "New Jersey is a far better place for having had the benefit of his leadership, and I for having the benefit of his friendship ... It is truly the end of an era."

U.S. Rep. Mikie Sherrill said Codey is a "mentor, a friend, and a key partner in fighting for the policies we all care about."

"As the longest serving legislator in New Jersey’s history, Dick Codey dedicated his life to our state," Sherrill said. "Whether he was fighting for mental health resources for mothers experiencing postpartum depression, stronger gun violence prevention laws to protect communities, or substance abuse treatment and prevention programs, Codey was a leader New Jerseyans could count on in the state assembly, state senate, and as governor."

Attorney General Matthew Platkin called Codey the "quintessential New Jersey public servant."

"Through a half century of service, he always looked out for the people who put him in office and he always stayed true to himself – including his unique sense of humor," Platkin said. "Public service is about creating a better future for everyone around you. Indeed, at every opportunity, he did just that."

U.S. Sen. Robert Menendez said Codey is "honest, straightforward and dogged in achieving his vision," adding that he is a "fighter for what is right," as well as a "family man who understands that service comes both inside government and in the community."

Senate President Nick Scutari also issued a statement after learning that Codey doesn’t plan to seek re-election. He wrote:

“Dick Codey is one of the most accomplished state leaders in New Jersey history. His career of public service is unmatched, with a half-century of dedicated service in the Senate and Assembly, as Senate President and as Governor, where he provided a steady hand of leadership during times of transition. When I first entered the Senate almost 20 years ago, Dick Codey was a larger than life figure who already had a three decade long career with significant accomplishments. He knew how to get things done and he did it with humility, good humor and a spirit of selfless determination. He was a pioneer in the recognition and treatment of mental health conditions at a time when the issue was not openly discussed, and he demonstrated the courage of his beliefs by going undercover in a state psychiatric hospital to expose mistreatment. He also fought for significant gun safety laws, to track sex offenders and crack down on Internet predators, to protect young athletes from the ill effects of steroids, to pursue medical research with stem cells and to make health care available to the uninsured, among countless additional accomplishments.”

“Dick Codey always put the people of New Jersey first and he measured success by the progress achieved for those in need,” Scutari added. “For Dick, a ‘bleeding heart’ is not a derisive phrase, but a way of life.”

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