Only in New Jersey

Remember Jim McGreevey, the former Governor of New Jersey, who resigned nearly three years ago in disgrace because of an adulterous homosexual affair, as well as his having tried to give his boy toy, Golan Cipel, a high-ranking state job for which he was utterly unqualified, namely Homeland Security Advisor?

What do you think would be the perfect job for him now? In New Jersey, it would be teaching a course at Kean University on ethics, of course:

James E. McGreevey, who resigned the governorship under a cloud of scandal, has a new job teaching law, ethics and leadership at one of New Jersey's public colleges.

McGreevey is now an "executive in residence" -- a combination teaching and consulting post -- at Kean University in Union, where he is earning $17,500. The former governor came on board without any announcement on Nov. 1, Kean officials said, and the university makes no mention of his role on its Web site or faculty directory.

That $17,500 may not sound like a lot, but McGreevey held several public offices before becoming Governor and that teaching time counts towards his state pension, which will be based primarily on his highest salary, which, not surprisingly, was during his three years as Governor:

With the new post, McGreevey can once again accrue credits for years of service in the state pension system because Kean is a public college. McGreevey, 49, already has more than 19 years of service in the pension system. His final retirement benefit will be calculated based mostly on his nearly three years as governor, when he earned $157,000 a year. He will be eligible for his full pension once he has 25 years in the system and reaches his 60th birthday.

The ex-governor acknowledged the post will help his pension, but stressed that retirement pay was not the reason he went to Kean as opposed to other colleges he was considering. He noted that Kean and its off-campus locations are close to his home in Plainfield.

Sure, Jim. Anything you say.

NJ State Republican Chairman Tom Wilson gets the best line in this whole affair:

"It seems to me," Wilson said, "Jim McGreevey teaching law and ethics is a little bit like Doctor Kevorkian teaching health maintenance."

Heh.

Only in New Jersey. (Well, maybe in Chicago, too.) I can but shake my head in disbelief.

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And John Ashcroft is teaching law and government at Pat Robertson's law school.