Governor Jon Corzine
As New Jersey's 54th governor, Jon S. Corzine has applied his experience as a Wall Street executive and as a consensus builder in the United States Senate to advance an agenda of socially conscious initiatives, while maintaining a focus on financial responsibility.
Governor Corzine began his Wall Street career in 1975, at New York investment firm Goldman Sachs. Corzine's financial acumen propelled him through the ranks at Goldman Sachs, where he was named a partner in 1980, and chairman and chief executive officer in 1994. Corzine assumed the helm of Goldman Sachs during a troubling time, as the firm had suffered massive losses resulting from a downturn in the bond market. Through strategic initiatives that included realistic expectations, risk diversification, and a methodical approach to the future, Corzine reversed the fortunes of the firm and restored its longtime status as the leader of the investment banking industry. He left Goldman Sachs in 1999.
In November 2000, Corzine was elected to the United States Senate. While serving in the nation's capitol, Corzine put his expertise in financial and regulatory matters to work and adopted a forward-looking, progressive agenda. Corzine served as a member of the Committees on Banking, Intelligence, the Budget, and Energy and Natural Resources. Corzine's early accomplishments in the Senate include measures to safeguard chemical facilities against terrorist attacks, improve access to education and healthcare, and strengthen environmental policies.
As a member of the Senate, Corzine co-authored the Sarbanes-Oxley Act, legislation to crack down on corporate malfeasance crafted in the wake of accounting scandals surrounding Enron, Tyco, WorldCom, and other major corporations. Corzine was also a sponsor of the Start Healthy, Stay Healthy Act, which expands heath care coverage for children and pregnant women. He supported legislation outlawing the practice of racial profiling and, with Senator Sam Brownback, was chief sponsor of the Darfur Accountability Act to address genocide in the Sudan. Corzine was also one of 23 members of the Senate to vote against the Iraq War Resolution.
Corzine was elected Governor of New Jersey in 2006. As governor, he has continued to build on his reputation as a progressive, yet fiscally-responsible public servant. Corzine's applied his experience in the financial services industry to rein in decades of uncontrolled spending and reckless borrowing by New Jersey state government. Governor Corzine has eschewed the use of one-time gimmicks and borrowing to balance the state budget, adopting a "pay-as-you-go" approach.
Also, Corzine has stressed accountability for all public officials throughout his tenure as governor, creating the state's first independent comptroller to serve as a watchdog to root out corruption and unethical contracts, and working closely with the legislature to pass meaningful ethics reform.
Meanwhile, Corzine has continued to tackle pressing issues involving quality of life, economic development, and social justice. Under Corzine's watch, New Jersey has taken a proactive stance against greenhouse gas emissions and promoted greater use of renewable energy. He has also championed the expansion of stem cell research, investment in transportation infrastructure and increased funding for education.
In 2007, Corzine signed legislation allowing civil unions for same-sex couples and also approved legislation repealing the death penalty, making New Jersey the first state to do so in more than 40 years. Corzine has also signed into law initiatives to give the uninsured better access to healthcare services and a measure to allow workers to take paid leave for personal and family emergencies.
A 1969 graduate of the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Corzine enlisted in the U.S. Marine Corps Reserves, serving until 1975. He received his Masters of Business Administration from the University of Chicago in 1970.
