Acting Governor DiFrancesco is no longer a candidate to hold the office in his own right. The new governor will be one of three people - Republicans Bob Franks, a former US representative, and Bert Schundler former mayor of Jersey City, currently engaged in a bitter primary battle; or Woodbridge Mayor Jim McGreevey, running virtually unopposed on the Democratic side. Whoever wins will inherit a DiFrancesco-fostered economic game plan. He promised to try to work with his successor to implement it.

"If we don't do this, we won't be able to compete with other states," DiFrancesco said at the recent meeting. "We have to be able to successfully manage the state's economy as it continues to change from traditional manufacturing to high-tech and information-based growth. I know all of the candidates, and I hope to be involved in some role."