Cultivating Justice in the Garden State

My Life in the Colorful World of New Jersey Politics

RAYMOND LESN I AK

FOREWORD BY B I LL CL I NTON

“Raymond Lesniak’s heart and passion for animals and all those without a voice leap off the pages. Aesop said that no act of kindness, no matter how small, is ever wasted. I wonder what he would say about Senator Lesniak’s legacy of kindness, which truly is stretching around the world? Be inspired by these words and by this warrior for the voiceless. I have been.”

—Ashley Prout McAvey, Founder, Vermont For Wildlife

“This is the must-read masterpiece of a man who has overcome personal and political challenges to become a national progressive force on the cutting-edge issues of our time. As a senator, a model of compassion, and a ghter without peer, Raymond Lesniak provides riveting lessons to us all on how to conquer the longest odds to change the world. It is an essential guide for everyone in every state who cares about social justice.”

—Steven Goldstein, Founder of Garden State Equality

Born into a working-class Polish immigrant family in Elizabeth, New Jersey, Raymond Lesniak went on to become a major force in the tough and bruising world of state politics. In this remarkable memoir, he re ects upon his life and career ghting for social justice in the Garden State.

He recounts the many causes he championed in his forty years as a state legislator, from the landmark Environmental Cleanup Responsibility Act to bills concerning animal protections, marriage equality, women’s reproductive rights, and the abolition of the death penalty. He also delves into his experiences on the national stage as a key advisor for Bill Clinton and Al Gore’s presidential campaigns. With refreshing candor, Lesniak describes both his greatest achievements and his moments of failure, including his unsuccessful 2017 gubernatorial run.

Cultivating Justice in the Garden State is both a gripping American success story and a must-read for anyone seeking to understand the inner workings of our political system. It offers an insider’s perspective on the past fty years of New Jersey politics, while presenting a compelling message about what leaders and citizens can do to improve the state’s future.

RAYMOND LESNIAK grew up in Elizabeth, New Jersey. After a stint in the army, he earned his B.A. from Rutgers University and his J.D. from St. John’s University School of Law. He served in New Jersey’s General Assembly from 1978 to 1983 and in its State Senate from 1983 to 2018.

Cultivating Justice in the Garden State

200 pp 5 b/w, 5 color images 6.125 x 9.25 978-1-9788-2497-3 cloth $34.95T

April 2022

Memoir • Politics

Table of Contents

Acknowledgments

Foreword

Prologue

Chapter 1: My Home Town

Chapter 2: Ma Green’s Boy

Chapter 3: Settling Scores

Chapter 4: Elections Matter

Chapter 5: Working Together

Chapter 6: The Natural: The Saga of Jim McGreevey

Chapter 7: Christie, Golan and the Kushner Connection

Chapter 8: Fighting Injustice

Chapter 9: The Fight for LGBTQ Rights

Chapter 10: On the Banks of the Old Raritan: My Love Affair with Rutgers University

Chapter 11: Sports Betting. A Good Bet

Chapter 12: A Wakeup Call and a Near Loss

Chapter 13: Animal Welfare

Chapter 14: Tax Incentives

Chapter 15: Gubernatorial Campaign. Not the Last Hurrah Epilogue