Sheila Oliver, New Jersey’s lieutenant governor and a outstanding Black chief, dies at 71

TRENTON, N.J. — Lt. Gov. Sheila Oliver, who rose to develop into considered one of New Jersey’s most outstanding Black leaders and passionately advocated for revitalizing cities and towards gun violence, died Tuesday after a sudden sickness. She was 71.

No reason behind demise was given, in keeping with an announcement from her household issued by Gov. Phil Murphy ’s workplace. Oliver was serving as appearing governor whereas Murphy and his household are on trip in Italy. His workplace stated she had been hospitalized on Monday.

Murphy stated he and his household are distraught on the information. Naming Oliver as his lieutenant governor was, he stated, “the perfect choice I ever made.”

She was the primary Black lady to carry statewide elected workplace in New Jersey, profitable the vote alongside Murphy in 2017 and once more in 2021. She was a widely known determine in state authorities, and made historical past in 2010 by changing into the primary Black lady to steer the state Meeting.

In distinction to her predecessor, who hardly ever appeared alongside Gov. Chris Christie, Oliver often stood at Murphy’s aspect and signed a number of payments into regulation whereas serving as appearing governor.

She was a compelling public speaker and frequent attendee at Murphy’s invoice signings and different occasions, the place he sometimes launched her as his “rocking” lieutenant governor.

In 2021 whereas unveiling tighter gun laws alongside Murphy, Oliver’s voice cracked as she lamented the gun violence that disproportionately affected cities within the state and lamented what she urged was runaway gun violence.

“We’re uninterested in funerals and memorials,” Oliver stated. “Rising up in Newark, I inform younger individuals I might go to any part of this metropolis on my own or with my associates. Our younger individuals can not do this as we speak.”

In 2021, she signed a invoice that established a pilot program to overtake the state’s juvenile justice system in 4 cities and which aimed to reintegrate younger individuals into their communities. One other measure she signed in 2021 revived a defunct fund for “city enterprise zones” aimed driving financial growth in cities by means of decrease gross sales tax charges.

Along with serving as Murphy’s high deputy, stepping in whereas he was out of the state, she additionally oversaw the Division of Neighborhood Affairs, which coordinates state help to cities and cities and supervises code enforcement.

Her sudden sickness and demise appeared to have shocked officers.

“That is devastating information. I’m shocked on the passing of Lieutenant Governor Oliver. Sheila is a pathbreaker and has been one of many foremost leaders of our nice state for many years. I’m nonetheless processing this,” Rep. Invoice Pascrell Jr. stated in an announcement.

Murphy’s workplace introduced on July 31 that Oliver was admitted to Cooperman Barnabas Medical Middle in Livingston with an undisclosed medical situation. The governor’s workplace declined to elaborate.

Her household’s assertion remembered her as “our cherished daughter, sister, aunt, good friend, and hero.”

Murphy spokesperson Mahen Gunaratna stated the governor shall be “returning quickly” however didn’t specify when. He was set to return Aug. 13.

Oliver served within the Meeting since 2004 and was on the Essex County board of chosen freeholders from 1996 to 1999. Born and raised in Newark, she earned a sociology diploma from Pennsylvania’s Lincoln College.

“She introduced a singular and invaluable perspective to our public coverage discourse and served as an inspiration to hundreds of thousands of girls and women in every single place, particularly younger girls of shade,” Murphy stated in an announcement Tuesday. “Past all of that, she was an extremely real and sort particular person whose friendship and partnership shall be irreplaceable.”

Oliver was simply the second particular person to carry the submit of lieutenant governor, a more moderen state authorities place that started beneath earlier Gov. Chris Christie.

It was unclear who would instantly succeed her. New Jersey’s structure requires Senate President Nicholas Scutari to function appearing governor if the governor and lieutenant governor are out of state or incapacitated. The structure requires Murphy to nominate Oliver’s successor inside 45 days.