September
2002
Feature
Story: Gee Whiz
Deputy Chief of Staff James Gee is Trenton's fastest rising political
star
Our story today begins as any legend would. Not to overstate anything,
because surely that's not the way this humble man would begin
his own story. But James Gee has ridden the fast track from summer
intern to one of Governor James McGreevey's right-hand people.
Pardon us if we become a bit effusive in our descriptions.
Once upon a time not too long ago, a seventh-grader from Trenton
approached assemblyman John Watson and asked if he could work
for him as a summer intern.
The assemblyman, a legend in his own right, took young James under
his wing. And you could say the rest is history, except of course,
that James Gee, deputy chief of staff for the governor, is only
30 years old. He's still writing his history, and he's just getting
started.
*
* *
You don't become a deputy chief of staff to the governor overnight.
James Gee may be just 30, but when you start your political career
at the age of 13, you're a veteran of the public scene by the
time you reach your twenties.
James
worked every day after school from seventh grade in the office
of the late great assemblyman, John S. Watson, whose family attended
the same church as James' family, Shiloh Baptist Church in Trenton.
The
John S. Watson Institute for Public Policy at Thomas Edison State
College is named in honor of the assemblyman. Watson, says James,
emphasized service to people and working hard, characteristics
that James clearly has taken on himself.
"It
was a real mentor-type relationship, it was a very close bond.
It was a very intimate. My dad loved James," says Bonnie
Watson-Coleman, a three-term member of the New Jersey State Assembly
and the daughter of John Watson. Prior to taking a leave of absence
to work on James McGreevey's gubernatorial campaign, James was
Watson Coleman's chief of staff.
"My
dad, who was very instrumental in bringing younger people to the
political table, recognized really early on that this was a young
person in age, but he was very learned and he's just a really
respectful young person with a genuine curiosity and a desire
to learn," adds Watson Coleman.
When
you hear James' life story, you begin to think that this is a
man may just be guided by a higher power. "I don't really
remember choosing politics as a profession," James says.
"A guy with a much bigger vision than me, by the name of
John Watson, introduced me to politics. I thought I was hanging
out with this cool old dude that was a friend of mine, but he
was obviously preparing me for something that he had in mind.
I was blessed to have a mentor like that."
For
Watson-Coleman, James was a blessing too. "I never intended
to run for office but when my father died it was a way of valuing
and respecting what he had done. When James came and worked for
me, that was like a gift my father left me. I inherited this dedicated
person who was very well trained I always looked upon my relationship
with James as a gift from my father. He'd be just tickled pink
about James."
When
James became the statewide political director for the Democratic
Party, Watson Coleman says, "I knew when James left that
he would not be back." The governor appointed James to his
staff in January of 2002.
There
are three deputy chiefs of staff. Kevin Hagan deals with the governor's
schedule and advance preparation, and is the governor's liaison
to elected officials who are not in the legislature, such as mayors
or county freeholders. Amy Mansue's constituencies are the admistration
(including the cabinet) and the business community. And James,
in addition to his role with the legislature, handles protocol-the
governor's facilities (such as Drumthwacket, the governor's mansion),
and ethnic and minority events.
It's
a lot of work for three people. On a normal day the staff members
get into the office around 8 a.m., earlier when the legislature
is in session.
"It's
not rare for us to leave around 7:30, 8 o'clock (p.m.) on a normal
day," says James. "There were nights when we were doing
the budget, we didn't get out of here until around 2 in the morning."
The
weekends bring additional duties, such as reaching out to their
respective constituencies at events like the governor's "Celebrate
New Jersey" tour, in which he visited every county in New
Jersey. James's also attends the events and press conferences
that the legislators hold, as a representative from the governor's
office. In other words, it's a life-consuming job.
*
* *
What
is a typical James Gee day like?
As a deputy chief of staff for the governor, James' primary responsibility
is as the liaison between the governor's office and the state
legislature. "I make sure the legislators have the information
they need and know the administration's goals and objectives,"
says James.
The
morning might feature a press conference or two. On the day that
the Trenton Downtowner visited with James, there were a lot of
legislative hearings underway.
"The
State Department of Health, the Department of Human Services and
Community Affairs-they have positions on bills and issues that
are important to the legislature," says James. "I deal
with legislators to try to make sure they feel comfortable with
what we're doing." James talks often with legislators by
phone, connecting them with the proper person in the departments
to answer questions.
You'll
be relieved to hear that among James' primary responsibilities
is helping to eliminate governmental red tape. "We oftentimes
can stop a bill that isn't necessary, if the department is already
doing what the bill intends. If the bill would create a bureaucracy
that isn't necessary, the dept will let me know the details, and
I will let the legislator know."
James
also communicates with legislators so that they know when the
governor is going to be in their districts.
James'
beeper never seems to stop buzzing. But he's used to it. He can't
even tell you how many pages he receives a day.
*
* *
James Gee is Trenton born and Trenton bred. "When I die I'll
be Trenton dead," he recites. He did attend Notre Dame High
School, but he's returned to his native city to live and work.
James grew up in West Trenton, Gardner Avenue off Parkway
Today
he lives in Mill Hill. "Mill Hill is what a city's supposed
to be. It's diverse, it's clean, people care about their neighbors,"
says James. "It's just a pleasure to live in a place like
that. People are surprised, people who don't know about Mill Hill
and its diversity. Because I live there now, people who come to
visit me are shocked to see" a quaint, quiet neighborhood
among the streets that surround it.
Perhaps
as much as any other person, including Trenton Mayor Doug Palmer,
James Gee is in a position to see that the state government focuses
its efforts not only on the rest of the state, but on the city
itself.
"Trenton
is the state's capital. Trenton is everybody's city," James
says with passion. "It should be important to all the people
of New Jersey. When people come to see what New Jersey's capital
offers, they come here. Kids in Idaho learn the capital of New
Jersey is Trenton. So we should all work hard to make sure it's
something we can be proud of."
Dealing
with the legislature certainly does not encompass all of James'
responsibilities-he is also heavily involved in very complicated
governmental matters like helping orchestrate the office party
for the governor's birthday.
"He's
a great guy, very down to earth," says James. "He's
probably the brightest guy I've ever met, in terms of knowing
about every issue. It's very difficult to know more than Governor
McGreevey. He's also very socially conscious and able to read
people."
Clearly
the governor was intelligent enough to make sure James Gee stuck
around to contribute as a key member of his staff. But you don't
have to be one of the greatest readers of people to know that
James is someone you want on your team.
Bonnie
Watson-Coleman and Bill Watson, her brother and the executive
director of the Watson Institute, have seen James grow up. When
they speak of him, you can feel it in their clear, unwavering
voices: they know that whatever James decides to tackle next in
his career, he'll do a great job.
James
himself doesn't speculate as to where his career will take him,
at least not publicly. "It's a matter of working hard and
learning what I can so a number of options are available,"
he says with a pragmatism that serves him well. "That's really
what I'm doing now, what I'm focused on as opposed to ambitious
plans for my self."
As
Bill Watson says, Trenton already has a mayor in Doug Palmer who's
from the city and who knows what the city needs in an elected
official. Still, if and when Mayor Palmer should step down, there
are going to be eyes cast in James Gee's direction. The only question
really will be, will he be already beyond the stage of mayoral
candidate by the time that opportunity rolls around?
"I
think certainly, if James decides to seek elected office, he could
be very successful," says Bill Watson. "James is the
next generation and we should be about building that next generation
of leadership in Trenton."
