New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy is cutting short his vacation in Italy and returning to the state following the unexpected death of Lieutenant Governor Sheila Oliver. Murphy had originally planned to stay in Italy until August 13th but will now be back in New Jersey on Thursday. The spokesperson for the governor, Mahen Gunaratna, announced the early return, citing Oliver’s passing as the reason.
Oliver had been hospitalized at Cooperman Barnabas Medical Center in Livingston, New Jersey, for an undisclosed medical issue, and her death occurred the day after her hospitalization was announced. The cause of her passing has not been disclosed, and her family has requested privacy during this difficult time.
Sheila Oliver was a trailblazer in New Jersey politics, becoming the state’s first Black woman to hold a statewide elected office in 2017. She retained the position alongside Governor Murphy in both the 2017 and 2021 elections. Oliver was highly respected and admired for her contributions to the state government. In 2010, she made history as the first Black woman to lead the state Assembly.
During her time as acting governor, Oliver signed several significant bills into law. In 2021, she signed a bill that implemented a pilot program aimed at reforming the state’s juvenile justice system in four cities, with the goal of reintegrating young people into their communities. Another bill she signed revived a defunct fund for urban enterprise zones in an effort to drive economic development in cities by reducing sales tax rates.
Sheila Oliver was also an advocate for stricter gun control measures. Her partnership with Governor Murphy was viewed as a close and productive working relationship. Shortly after her untimely death, Murphy referred to choosing Oliver as his top deputy as the best decision he had ever made.
While Governor Murphy is out of the country, Senate President Nicholas Scutari is serving as acting governor in accordance with the state constitution. The constitution stipulates that a new lieutenant governor must be appointed within 45 days. However, Governor Murphy has not yet disclosed who will succeed Sheila Oliver in this role.
As we wait to find out Oliver’s successor, Governor Murphy’s early return from his vacation underscores the significance of her passing and the impact she had on the state of New Jersey. It is clear that she will be deeply missed, and her legacy as a dedicated public servant and trailblazer will be remembered fondly.
