When Dick Codey announced his retirement from the Legislature after a record 50 years, his impending departure at the end of the year elicited warm and effusive praise for his legislative achievements and half century of public service.

Codey’s career began with his election to the Assembly in 1973 and to the Senate in 1981.  Along the way, he served two terms as Senate President and just over 13 months as Acting Governor (November 2004 to January 2006) following the resignation of Jim McGreevey.

He established a reputation as a leading voice for enhanced mental health services and programs and as a strong supporter of gun control measures.

As a member of the staff of the Assembly Republicans and later as press secretary for Gov. Thomas H. Kean for eight years and Christie Whitman for three years, our paths crossed with some frequency.

There is a great deal to be said for Codey’s leadership and as outspoken champion of people who he felt had little voice in government.  For me, though, an incident in January of 2005 remains the most memorable of his tenure.

In the best tradition of Jersey style reaction to settling disputes, Codey confronted and threatened to “take out” a radio talk show host who had delivered disparaging remarks concerning individuals suffering from depression and, more specifically, postpartum depression.

Codey and his wife, Mary Jo, were open about her struggles with postpartum following the birth of their son, describing her thoughts of harming herself or the infant.

The 101.5 radio personality, Craig Carton, suggested on his broadcast that women suffering from the ailment were probably a little crazy to begin with.

Codey, arriving at the radio studio for an “Ask the Governor” call in show, faced off with Carton and said: “I wish I weren’t governor, I’d take you out.”

After a few heated word exchanges between the two, the situation never became physical and after the show Codey remarked that he was “proud” of what he’ done.

While Codey’s reaction may not have precisely fit the description of “gubernatorial” behavior, most New Jerseyans nodded in approval.

Obviously, for Codey it was extremely personal, but even for talk show hosts like Carton who deal in outrage and pushing the boundaries of sensitivity and taste, attributing a serious and too often tragic medical condition to being “crazy” crossed a line.

It must have been a measure of quiet revenge for Codey when in 2019 Carton was sentenced to 42 months in Federal prison for wire fraud, securities fraud and conspiracy for his role in a ticket buying scheme from which he reaped enormous profit.

It is assured that as Codey’s departure from the Legislature becomes imminent, the level and amount of commendatory praise will increase.

As well deserved as they all may be, for me, an evening in January more than 18 years ago in a corridor of a radio studio was Dick Codey’s finest hour.

Carl Golden is a senior contributing analyst with the William J. Hughes Center for Public Policy at Stockton University.