January 1, New Jersey’s Lieutenant Governor Passes Away Suddenly

The political landscape of New Jersey suffered a significant loss on Tuesday, with the passing of Lt. Gov. Sheila Oliver, as announced by her family.

Oliver, the first Black woman to serve as speaker of the state Assembly, was 71.

In her role as Lieutenant Governor, Oliver served alongside Democratic Gov. Phil Murphy, often acting in his stead during his absences and leading the Department of Community Affairs.

The department manages state aid to towns and cities and supervises code enforcement.

No cause of death was revealed in the statement released by her family via Gov. Murphy’s office.

The Oliver family’s statement read:

“It is with incredible sadness and a heavy heart that we announce the passing of the Honorable Sheila Y. Oliver, Lieutenant Governor of the State of New Jersey. She was not only a distinguished public servant but also our cherished daughter, sister, aunt, friend, and hero.”

In her capacity as acting governor, Oliver had a significant influence on state legislation, signing numerous bills.

Among these was a 2021 act that initiated a pilot program to revamp the state’s juvenile justice system in four cities, targeting the reintegration of young people into their communities.

The news of Oliver’s hospitalization was shared by Murphy’s office on July 31 while the Governor was vacationing with his family in Italy.

The nature of her medical condition was not disclosed, though a spokesperson for the Governor confirmed that Murphy will be “returning soon.”

Reacting to Oliver’s death, Governor Murphy said that he and his family were “incredibly saddened.”

Murphy recognized Oliver as an “incredibly genuine and kind person whose friendship and partnership will be irreplaceable,” calling her selection as his running mate “the best decision I ever made.”

Oliver’s illustrious career in public service spanned several decades.

Born and raised in Newark, she earned a sociology degree from Lincoln University in Pennsylvania and served on the Essex County board of chosen freeholders from 1996 to 1999. She won election to the state Assembly in 2004.

In 2010, she made history by becoming the first Black woman to serve as Assembly speaker.

She was later selected as a running mate by Murphy in 2017, and the pair won two consecutive elections in 2017 and 2021.

Bottom Line

As New Jersey mourns the loss of Oliver, the question of her succession remains unclear.

According to the state’s constitution, the Senate president is expected to serve as acting governor if both the governor and lieutenant governor are absent or incapacitated.

As our loyal readers, we encourage you to share your thoughts and opinions on this issue. Let your voice be heard and join the discussion below.

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