Sen. Richard Codey stepped between Sen. Michael Doherty and Sen. Ray Lesniak
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Sen. Michael Doherty and Sen. Ray Lesniak got close and personal as they argued on the Senate floor today while Sen. Dick Codey intervened.TRENTON — A state Senate session nearly turned into a boxing match today, when state Sen. Dick Codey (D-Essex) had to physically get between two senators who were in a heated argument.
The tension started as state Sen. Michael Doherty (R-Warren) railed against the state’s school funding formula on the Senate floor, arguing that it favored urban areas over suburban and rural ones. At full volume, state Sen. Ray Lesniak (D-Union) piped in, saying “Not true.”
After his speech, Doherty walked across the Senate chambers to talk to Lesniak, who was seated, to further argue his point. Lesniak didn’t want to hear it, repeatedly telling Doherty “Get out of my face.”
At that point, Codey rose from his desk next to Lesniak's to cool Doherty down.
“It was a spirited debate, and it was starting to escalate, so it was time for me to jump up and play Jimmy Carter,” said Codey.
“It seemed to be Ireland vs. Poland, and I was neutral,” Codey added.
Doherty returned to his seat, and Lesniak thanked Codey for intervening, telling him he would have “punched (Doherty’s) nose down his throat” if he hadn’t, Lesniak said.
“I’m thankful to Gov. Codey for saving me from embarrassing myself,” said Lesniak, who added that it could have gotten physical. “As somebody who grew up in Elizabeth port section, you never know.”
Doherty could not immediately be reached for comment.
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