McGreevey to join Dem leader's law firm

New Jersey governor James E. McGreevey will join the law firm of a political mentor, state senator Raymond Lesniak, after resigning his post as governor next month, according to a published report. As a partner in the firm of Weiner Lesniak, McGreevey will focus on business development, client recruitment, and advising clients about dealing with government, The Star-Ledger of Newark reported in Tuesday's editions, citing four top Democrats familiar with McGreevey's plans. Lesniak would not confirm the report. "The governor would be an asset to many firms throughout this state and nation," Lesniak told the newspaper. "He's done a lot of good things for the state of New Jersey, and he's a national figure. And there are a lot of people who respect all of the hard work he's put in over the past decade in public service and would be honored to have him working with them as part of their business." McGreevey was not available for comment. McGreevey spokeswoman Kathy Ellis told the newspaper she does not know what the governor is planning as his next step. McGreevey, 47, announced in August that he intended to resign November 15, saying he was a "gay American" and acknowledging an extramarital affair with a man. The governor's links to the law firm date to his time as mayor of Woodbridge, where Weiner Lesniak was the town's general legal counsel. Lesniak and Paul Weiner, the law firm's principals, were key members of the fund-raising group that helped McGreevey successfully campaign for the governor's office. Lesniak has been a close adviser to McGreevey throughout his political career. The law firm has 35 attorneys and a single office in Parsippany. Its practice focuses on municipal law, labor and employment, and insurance work. Although McGreevey has been a member of the New Jersey bar since 1981, he has spent little time practicing law. He was an assistant prosecutor in Middlesex County for one year and was an attorney and lobbyist for pharmaceutical firm Merck and Co. for a brief time.