AGENT NOW N.J. GOVERNOR:

Richard J. Codey, long time Democratic legislator and local independent insurance agent in his West Orange community, has become New Jersey’s acting governor. Codey assumed the office from James McGreevey, who resigned following his admission of an extramarital gay affair. Codey was first elected to the legislature as an assemblyman in 1973, at the age of 26. Codey has represented the 27th legislative district in Essex County, which includes the towns of Caldwell, Essex Fells, Fairfield, Livingston, Maplewood, North Caldwell, Orange, Roseland, South Orange, West Orange, and part of the City of Newark. Codey was re-elected three times to the Assembly, and was selected Senate President in 2004. Codey has severed ties to his insurance business and had asked the state Department of Banking and Insurance to suspend his insurance license. Codey signed a blind trust agreement on Oct. 14 that names Nicholas H. Politan sole trustee of the Olympic Agency Inc., giving Politan the authority to act as chairman of the board and the power to sell, merge or consolidate the company. Codey will fill the 14 months remaining of Gov. James E. McGreevey’s term.