Gay governor's estranged wife wants fourfold increase in support

The estranged wife of the nation's first openly gay governor wants a judge to increase her monthly support nearly fourfold to $4,000 so she can live a lifestyle closer to that of New Jersey's first lady.

Dina Matos McGreevey said she and the couple's 5-year-old daughter live in a modest three-bedroom house while her husband, Jim McGreevey, and his male partner live in a lavish 17-room mansion with gardens, according to court papers.

''In total, I need $11,162 per month to meet my expenses,'' she told the judge. ''This lifestyle by no means approximates the lifestyle which plaintiff enjoys, much less the lifestyle we enjoyed while plaintiff was governor.''

Matos McGreevey said in the papers that McGreevey's assertion that ''he is only obligated to pay $1,129 per month in support for Jacqueline given his income and lifestyle is outrageous.''

The papers, filed Monday, were made available Wednesday by superior court judge Karen M. Cassidy, who is presiding over the couple's contentious divorce.

Matos McGreevey said her husband intentionally kept his 2005 earnings to $165,000 ''to limit his support obligations.''

''He expected that by the time he had to reveal his 2006 income, our case would have been settled, and so in one year he more than doubled his income,'' she said.

Citing 2006 federal income tax returns, Matos McGreevey says McGreevey's adjusted gross income was $428,833, including $17,400 from Kean University for adjunct teaching and $60,000 in consulting fees from a law firm.

Matos McGreevey said she grossed $82,000 in 2006 from her position with Columbus Hospital in Newark. She also got a $275,000 book advance, of which she netted $195,000 after expenses.

But unless the book sells better, she won't receive any royalty payments.

McGreevey's lawyer, Matthew Piermatti II, said Matos McGreevey ''seems to be looking for the perks and benefits that even an ex-governor would not enjoy.'' He has until September 14 to file a response.

The judge will hear arguments on support and other issues contained in the paperwork on September 21.

McGreevey stunned the nation when he announced in August 2004 that he was ''a gay American'' and resigned. The McGreeveys officially split up when they moved out of the governor's mansion in November 2004. (Angela Delli Santi, AP)