State of New Jersey
Executive Order #58

Governor Jon S. Corzine
WHEREAS, Senator Richard W. Van Wagner spent almost his entire adult life committed to public service, and New Jersey is a better place today because of that commitment; and

WHEREAS, Senator Van Wagner was first elected to the New Jersey General Assembly in November 1973; and

WHEREAS, during his ten years in the Assembly, Senator Van Wagner served as Chairman of the Assembly Revenue, Finance, and Appropriations Committee and the Assembly Taxation Committee; and

WHEREAS, following his service in the General Assembly, in 1983 he was elected to the State Senate, where he served until 1991; and

WHEREAS, Senator Van Wagner was widely regarded as an expert in taxation issues, particularly in crafting tax relief programs and, under Governor James J. Florio, worked on landmark education finance legislation, that sought to reduce the State's reliance on property taxes for the funding of public education; and also sponsored the legislation that created the New Jersey Agent Orange Commission; and

WHEREAS, following his career in elective office, Senator Van Wagner served the State as general manager of governmental and regulatory affairs for the New Jersey Sports and Exposition Authority; and

WHEREAS, Senator Van Wagner continued his mission to reform New Jersey's tax laws through his recent service on the New Jersey Property Tax Convention Task Force; and

WHEREAS, Senator Van Wagner was widely admired by his colleagues and loved by his family and friends; and

WHEREAS, it is with deep sadness that we mourn the loss of Senator Van Wagner and extend our sincere sympathy to his family and friends; and

WHEREAS, it is fitting and appropriate to honor the memory and the passing of Senator Van Wagner;

NOW, THEREFORE, I, JON S. CORZINE, Governor of the State of New Jersey, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the Constitution and by the Statutes of this State, do hereby ORDER and DIRECT:

  1. The flag of the United States of America and the flag of the State of New Jersey shall be flown at half-staff at all State departments, offices, agencies and instrumentalities during appropriate hours on Saturday, March 10, 2007, in recognition and mourning of the passing of Senator Richard W. Van Wagner.

  2. This Order shall take effect immediately.

GIVEN, under my hand and seal this 9th day
of March, Two Thousand and Seven, and of
the Independence of the United States, the
Two Hundred and Thirty-First.

/s/ Jon S. Corzine

Governor

[seal]

Attest:

/s/ Kenneth H. Zimmerman

Chief Counsel to the Governor