McGreevey portrait finally unveiled

TRENTON - More than two years after his stunning public declaration that he was gay and would resign, former Gov. Jim McGreevey returned to his old Statehouse office yesterday for the private unveiling of his official portrait.

Attended by his partner, parents and the current governor, the low-key event brought McGreevey to the Statehouse building for first time since he left office in November 2004, three years into his first term.

Afterward, McGreevey called the event "special," and said it helped close a chapter of his life.

"It represents a final obligation," said McGreevey, 49.

McGreevey announced his resignation on national television during a speech best known for the line "I am a gay American." This followed an announcement that he'd had a gay affair with a staffer. The man, later identified as Golan Cipel, McGreevey's homeland security adviser, has denied that an affair took place and claims that the governor sexually harassed him.

Hanging high on a wall in the governor's outer office, the portrait depicts McGreevey at a desk in his office at the governor's official residence in Princeton. In the painting, his hand rests on a book; the American and New Jersey flags are behind him.

The scandal surrounding McGreevey's abrupt departure from politics kept subdued a ceremony that for other governors has served as a public, well-attended event held to honor their service to the state. No formal invitations were issued for yesterday's unveiling. The governor's office did not announce it in advance, and there was no official ceremony. No refreshments were served.

McGreevey said his private return to the Statehouse was "appropriate," and both he and a spokesman for Corzine said the former governor did not want to publicize it.

Besides Corzine, McGreevey's family and his partner, Mark O'Donnell, the unveiling was attended by his former secretary, the executive director of the State Democratic Committee, and several members of the current Democratic governor's staff.

The $25,000 painting had been in storage for more than a year. A private ceremony was at one time planned for this past summer, but was delayed while McGreevey was on tour promoting his memoir.

McGreevey and his family had a 15-minute private audience with Corzine before the unveiling, during which the governor discussed his goals for the coming year, his efforts to lower property taxes, education and other policy initiatives, McGreevey said.

McGreevey's father, a former Marine drill sergeant, also discussed veterans' issues with the governor, McGreevey said.

McGreevey's portrait hangs among those of other former governors in the outer office, which is often used for news conferences and other public events. Portraits of former governors hang throughout the Statehouse, and the pictures of more recent governors are displayed in the outer office.

McGreevey and his second wife, who stood by his side when he announced his resignation, have separated. McGreevey now lives with O'Donnell in Plainfield.

The delay with McGreevey's portrait also slowed the hanging of the portrait of his successor, Gov. Richard J. Codey. That painting also is finished and may be hung later this month.

McGreevey, who commissioned artist Chen Yanning to paint his portrait, sat for the picture after leaving office. The painting was paid for out of gubernatorial transition funds.