James E. McGreevey was elected the 51st governor of the State of New Jersey November 6, 2001, and took the oath of office January 15, 2002. His term runs until noon on January 17, 2006.

In his first year as the State's Chief Executive, Governor McGreevey restored fiscal responsibility to State government, worked to improve New Jersey's educational system and strengthened security.

Through bipartisan efforts, the Governor balanced the State budget, despite confronting the largest deficit in State history. The budget, which was balanced without raising the sales or income tax, maintained State aid levels for local governments and school districts and funded investments in education, cancer care and research, infrastructure development and homeland security.

Governor McGreevey, who established a "Reading Coaches" program to strengthen literacy, has worked hard to enable students to read at grade level or better by the end of the third grade. He also developed several "Career Academies" in partnership with the business community to provide students with the skills needed to compete in the 21st century economy.

In addition, the Governor is working with the New Jersey Commission on Higher Education's Long Range Planning Committee to restructure the University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey, Rutgers University and New Jersey Institute of Technology into a statewide research university system.

To strengthen New Jersey's economy, Governor McGreevey re-configured Prosperity New Jersey to create a partnership between the private sector, the research university community and the State to leverage New Jersey's strengths and develop the Garden State as the Innovation State.

His Administration is overseeing an $8.6 billion school construction program, which represents an unprecedented investment in the economy, as well as New Jersey communities and children. In addition, the State is investing $2 billion in a Transportation Capital Program which will provide substantial infrastructure support and assistance for local governments.

Governor McGreevey also has promoted "business incubators" which foster continued growth in the new economy, by providing start-up and small firms with a services to help them succeed.

In the area of security, the Governor established the Office of Counter-Terrorism within the Attorney General's Office, signed the September 11th Anti-Terrorism Act, and set forth new bioterrorism protocols in cooperation with hospitals, laboratories and pharmaceutical companies.

Prior to being elected Governor in November 2001, 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 since 1991, 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 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 married the former Dina Matos on October 7, 2000. Their daughter, Jacqueline Matos, was born on December 7, 2001. McGreevey also has a daughter from a previous marriage, Morag Veronica, who was born on October 27, 1992.