McGreevey returns to roots for book signing
Event was first in a two-month calendar of appearances
BY KATHY CHANG
Staff Writer

Former New Jersey Gov. and Woodbridge Mayor James E. McGreevey signs a copy of his new book, "The Confession," for Rosa Aiello, of Maplewood.

Lifelong Hopelawn resident Barbarann Kohanbani waited three hours for former Gov. James E. McGreevey's book-signing event to start last week.

The event, which drew hordes of New York and New Jersey broadcast and print media and close to 400 admirers and friends, was scheduled to start at 6 p.m. at the Woodbridge Community Center on Sept. 19.

The book-signing event kicked off McGreevey's book tour for his 353-page memoir "The Confession" that was released that same day. Garden State Equality, a gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender civil rights group, sponsored the event.

"I was the first one to buy the book and was the first one in line for him to sign the book," Kohanbani said. "I paid with exact change-$23.07."

The book cover price is $26.95. People were able to buy the book and take a free Polaroid photograph with the former governor.

SCOTT PILLING staff

"Thank you for your example and friendship," McGreevey wrote in Kohanbani's book.

"I'm not sure what 'Thank you for your example means,' " she said. "But I wanted to come here because he has been a good supporter for Woodbridge Township. In 1999, he sent my family condolences when my father, Walter Lozeski, died."

Kohanbani watched McGreevey's one-hour interview with Oprah Winfrey, which aired on the same day.

"I got to watch him on 'Oprah' on the big screen TV here at 4 p.m.," she said. "He just taught you to treat everybody with respect and love each other."

Woodbridge police officers and police auxiliary members cornered off an area outside the center for the media. By 6:30 p.m., it started to drizzle and the media was getting anxious.

"They will be here in 10 minutes," said Steven Goldstein, chairman and CEO of Garden State Equality. "They are stuck in traffic on the parkway."

Philip Peck, a member of the Woodbridge Library Board of Trustees, said he came to thank McGreevey for writing nice words about former state Sen. Jack Fay, who died in 2003.

McGreevey said "unlike so many other politicians. Jack was demonstrably honest. He was a spiritual and ethical man, one of the really good guys."

"You know if he ran for office tomorrow, he would be elected," said Peck, who has been active in Democratic Party politics for more than 50 years. "I haven't spoken to him or Dina [Matos, McGreevey's second wife] since they left the governor's office. The last time I saw him was when we were standing in the kitchen of Drumthwacket mansion. He just heated something up for dinner and was headed off to Vancouver to see his daughter [Morag, 13, from his first marriage with Kari Schutz]."

McGreevey arrived in a black Range Rover with his Australian-born partner Mark O'Donnell and close friend, Lori Kennedy, wife of Rahway Mayor Jim Kennedy, just after 6:40 p.m.

About a dozen members of Garden State Equality greeted McGreevey with hugs and kisses as he walked up to the center in a black suit with a navy and yellow striped tie.

"Thank you," he said. "This [book] is a painful and honest transparency portrait of my life. I want to thank my family for their love. This was my mistake and mine alone.

"Hopefully from the book, they can understand," said McGreevey, as O'Donnell patted him on the back.

McGreevey shook hands, hugged and kissed everyone on his way up to the second floor of the community center.

Goldstein told McGreevey that he set the stage on Aug. 12, 2004, when he told the public that "he was a proud gay American" and resigned from the governor position.

"You know, I was critical of Jim at one point," Goldstein said. "I had complicated feelings about him. But in these two years, you made us realize that we can be who we are. Every child has the potential to be who he or she wants to be. The book gives us hope and teaches us to be honest with ourselves."

McGreevey said his challenges have been graced by God.

"I failed to be that person and I hurt those that I have loved," he said. "I made bad errors of judgment and didn't embrace who I was."

McGreevey promised the media that this book tour was the last "McGreevey public remarks that they would have to get."

"I am reclaiming my life," he said. "Thank you to my family and friends in Woodbridge. It's good to be home."

Then McGreevey kissed O'Donnell before he made his way to the table to sign books.

Marc Savant came from Key West, Fla., to see McGreevey.

"I'm a major supporter of McGreevey," he said. "He had the courage to come out when the media coverage tore him up. He has embraced who he is and stays an active parent."

Beth Amory of Woodbridge has always supported McGreevey.

"I saw 'Oprah' today, and it just took my breath away," she said.

Randolph E. Wicker, of Hoboken, and Grant Peterson, of New York City, said they admired McGreevey's courage.

"It's uncommon for men his age to come out," said Wicker, who was a homosexual activist in the 1960s. "I was lucky to come out in my 20s. You think, he has two daughters and is married. Why bother?"

Don Sobleski, Plainfield, said this is an introduction to what it will be like in the future.

"We need a positive gay attitude in our lives," he said. "I haven't officially came out, but I think people know. I think we can move towards a place where we don't have to ask. People don't ask people if they are heterosexual. We shouldn't be labeled by our sexual preference. It's part of human nature."

Frank and Anna Hanley have been friends with the McGreevey family for 32 years.

"Next time you see my father [Jack], tell him to go exercise with you," McGreevey said to Frank, who is also a World War II veteran, as he signed their book.

Goldstein said it took him four hours to read McGreevey's book.

"It was refreshingly painful and honest," he said.

Goldstein dispelled Golan Cipel's [McGreevey's alleged former lover] remarks last week when he denied having a relationship with McGreevey and said he had been sexually harassed by the then-governor.

"I believe Jim McGreevey," he said. "I do not believe Golan Cipel. I believe he [Cipel] was in a gay relationship before, but he doesn't want to recognize it."

McGreevey was still signing books at 9:30 p.m.

"Mark, your partner's wearing us down," said Goldstein to O'Donnell.

"You just don't know," said O'Donnell. "He would just keep on going if you let him."

At 9:50 p.m., McGreevey finally signed the last book.

As he made his way out of the Woodbridge Community Center, which was one of his major accomplishments as mayor, he continued to shake hands and hug old friends.

O'Donnell pulled the Range Rover up to the front doors and McGreevey got into the back seat.

He rolled down the window and waved goodbye. It was 10:04 p.m.

Barbara Casbar, of Edison, who is president of the New Jersey Stonewall Democrats and part of Garden State Equality, said the event went well.

"The turnout by the diverse community is amazing," she said.

Barnes & Noble representatives, who were selling the books, did not keep count of how many books were sold, but said they believed several hundred books were sold during the three hours.