OH, FOR THE DAYS OF BRENDAN BYRNE...:

McGreevey keeps `forgetting' to cover his own expenses (BOB INGLE, December 9, 2002, Gannett New Jersey)

The state Democratic Party used to be about promoting its agenda and exposing the Republicans. It's morphed into a bank to bail out Gov. McGreevey when he shoots a hole in the ship of state, which is becoming commonplace.

Gannett State Bureau reporter Laura Kaessinger reports the Democrats will pay New Jersey $18,200 for 14 private helicopter rides McGreevey took on state-owned choppers. Why the governor needed to fly those 14 times is a Big Secret. Except for Sept. 22. That was for a lawmaker's wedding. Silly me, I was starting to think this was frivolous stuff.

What's even stranger is the explanation for why the 13 others are kept in the closet.

"They are pertinent to his functions as governor but remain as part of a private schedule that governors are entitled to," said spokesman Kevin Davitt.

To which I say: If it has something to do with the governor's functions, then it is the people's business. If McGreevey wants privacy, he shouldn't run for office.

MCGREEVEY'S RECLUSIVE ISRAELI AIDE STEPS DOWN (JOSH MARGOLIN, August 15, 2002 , Capital Report)

Golan Cipel, the reticent and controversial aide to Gov. James E. McGreevey who stepped down under pressure as the state's homeland security adviser five months ago, resigned from state government yesterday without explanation.

The 33-year-old native of Israel and published poet will take a job in the private sector, said Paul Aronsohn, a spokesman for the Governor. Officials said Cipel has several job options.

With a salary of $110,000 a year, Cipel was one of the highest-paid officials on the Governor's staff. [...]

Cipel has always enjoyed a close relationship with the Governor.

When Cipel first arrived in New Jersey to work on the campaign, McGreevey assigned campaign staffers to arrange for a Woodbridge apartment a
tenth of a mile from McGreevey's own condominium.

Then, late last year, McGreevey took time out from his transition plans to accompany Cipel on a last- minute walk-through of the West Windsor townhouse Cipel was about to purchase.

McGreevey's unannounced inspection caught the seller, Elaine Dietrich, by surprise.

According to Dietrich, she had listed the place at $189,900. Cipel saw it only once and offered $190,000 provided it was taken off the market immediately. Cipel explained "he wanted to have a place that was in close proximity to where the Governor was because he was a personal adviser on call 24 hours a day."

Before Cipel would sign the contract, Dietrich said, he wanted to make sure McGreevey saw it, too.

"I thought it was highly unusual," she said. "I'm counsel to the administrative director of the courts, and I'm not going to ask (the director) to come
look at my place and approve a purchase ... You've got to admit, it's a little bizarre."

Posted by Orrin Judd at December 9, 2002 3:22 PM