James E. McGreevey was elected the 51st governor of the State of New Jersey on November 6, 2001, and took the oath of office January 15, 2002. He resigned his office effective November 15, 2004.

In his first two years as the State’s Chief Executive, McGreevey closed $14 billion in budget gaps and balanced the State budget without raising sales or income taxes. Despite fiscal challenges of historic levels, the Governor moved New Jersey forward in several development areas, including education, the economy, the environment and health care.

In 2003, McGreevey continued his efforts to promote job growth and make New Jersey a center for high-tech, biotech, and financial services. He redesigned the State’s workforce training efforts for the under employed into a coordinated delivery system with 20 local community colleges. He revamped the State’s Business Employment Incentive Program, turning the program into a precision tool for creating jobs, and proposed an ambitious five-year plan to create 200,000 new jobs. Under his leadership, New Jersey outpaced the national economy, adding 37,500 jobs while the national economy lost jobs.

The Governor made education a top priority, with a strong focus on literacy. To ensure that children can read well by the end of the third grade, the State put reading coaches in 100 of the poorest performing schools and encouraged children to read by creating the Governor’s Book Club. In addition, New Jersey has undertaken the largest school construction project in the country – $8.6 billion over the next 10 years.

As Governor, McGreevey also restored New Jersey's long tradition of strong environmental protection with a new emphasis on clean air and water, controlling over-development, protecting public health and preserving our state's natural treasures. He has implemented the most comprehensive set of water protections in the nation, requiring 300-foot buffers around the state’s high quality waters.

As Governor he worked to make New Jersey a national leader in health and cancer care, bringing together the State’s unique resources – leading health care institutions, major pharmaceutical companies and the world-class scientists and researchers – to lead the country toward the eradication of cancer. The McGreevey Administration provided $56 million for cancer care and research in the last two years.

In June, 2003 McGreevey signed a landmark auto insurance reform package that is changing the way auto insurance companies operate in New Jersey. For the first time in nearly a decade, a new auto insurance company, Mercury General, has opened for business in New Jersey. In addition, the availability problem has been eased. A total of 37,000 uninsured drivers now have insurance, infusing $54 million into the system; and coverage choices are making auto insurance more affordable for all New Jersey drivers.

The Governor also was at the forefront of several initiatives to protect consumers, signing legislation to crack down on predatory lenders and prevent intrusive telemarketing phone calls.

Prior to being elected Governor, McGreevey was the Mayor of Woodbridge, New Jersey’s sixth largest municipality. Elected Mayor in 1991, his accomplishments included starting a public/private partnership that brought more than 6,000 new jobs and millions in new investment into the town. His tenure saw a revitalized business district, a 40 percent reduction in the crime rate, stabilized property taxes, and improved financial management. Under his leadership, Woodbridge became a leader in public health initiatives, which include cancer screenings and inoculations for children.

McGreevey served in the State Assembly in 1990 and 1991 and in the State Senate from 1994 to 1997, where he focused his efforts on better government, a cleaner environment and better health care. He sponsored and co-sponsored laws that established a state budget cap, strict ethical standards for public officials, and health reforms, including the state law requiring insurers to pay for mammograms. He was a key sponsor of the Pollution Prevention Act and wrote the legislation creating a permanent New Jersey Commission on Holocaust Education.

McGreevey previously worked as regional manager for Merck & Co. in public affairs. He also served as Executive Director for the New Jersey State Parole Board during the Kean administration. Upon graduating from law school, he served as Assistant Prosecutor, Middlesex County, New Jersey.

McGreevey was born in Jersey City on August 6, 1957. After graduation from St. Joseph’s High School, he received a bachelor’s degree from Columbia University and a law degree from Georgetown University. He also holds a master's degree in education from Harvard University.

McGreevey worked at the law firm of Weiner Lesniak from December, 2004 until May, 2005.

McGreevey has two daughters, Morag and Jacqueline.