Gov. Phil Murphy, back in New Jersey, mourns his 'greatest partner,' Sheila Oliver

Gov. Phil Murphy said Friday that he was "devastated" by the death of Lt. Gov. Sheila Oliver, calling her a "rock star" and the "greatest partner in government I could ever have hoped for."

"From the day Sheila agreed to join me in our first campaign in 2017, I have relied on her counsel, her compassion and her courage every single turn,'' Murphy said in a Statehouse news conference. He also announced that he had ordered flags at public buildings to be lowered at half-staff for a month.

Oliver, the first Black woman to serve as speaker of the General Assembly and highest-ranking Black official in state history, died Tuesday at 71.

The governor, who on Thursday returned from a family vacation in Italy, declined to reveal the cause of death, saying he was deferring to her family's wish for privacy. He also said he had no indication that she was incapable of performing her duties until the "last 24 hours" of her life.

"There was no data ever until the very, very end that Sheila could not execute, either as lieutenant governor or as acting governor in my absence or as commissioner of the Department of Community Affairs," Murphy said.

His office announced last Monday that Oliver was hospitalized and unable to "discharge" her duties as acting governor. Senate President Nicholas Scutari, next in the line of succession, took on the role. Murphy returned to Italy on Friday, leaving Scutari as acting governor.

Murphy spoke warmly and glowingly of Oliver, who initially helped him navigate the political landscape as a political newcomer in his first campaign for governor in 2017. He said his family developed a close bond with Oliver, and described her as a forceful social advocate within his administration on affordable housing policy and the revitalization of Atlantic City. He also praised her role in pressing for rental and landlord assistance during the pandemic and vowed to continue her work on the Wealth and Disparity Task Force, which had been exploring the issue of reparations for Black residents.

Obituary: Sheila Oliver, NJ lieutenant governor, dies at age 71

Tributes for Oliver planned

The Murphy administration has scheduled a series of events next week to allow for public mourning of Oliver, who is only the second Black woman in the United States to lead a legislature, after Karen Bass of California.

Oliver will lie in state in the rotunda at the New Jersey Statehouse on Aug. 10. Oliver will be escorted and accompanied by a rotating honor guard from the New Jersey State Police.

On Friday, Aug. 11, Oliver will return to Essex County, where she will lie in state at the Essex County Historic Courthouse with a rotating honor guard from the Essex County Sheriff’s Office. Then on Saturday, Aug. 12, a public memorial service will be held at the Cathedral Basilica of the Sacred Heart in Newark.

After the service, Oliver will be interred in a private ceremony.

Our view: Sheila Oliver fought for ordinary NJ residents — and set a remarkable example | Our view

What comes next

Under the constitution, Murphy has 45 days from the day of her death to name a replacement, a process that does not require the advice and consent of the Senate. That establishes a Sept. 15 deadline, but Murphy declined to discuss the matter Friday.

"All of our energies right now are focused on a proper farewell to Sheila," he said.

Murphy also acknowledged that he finds the idea of commissioning an official portrait of Oliver "intriguing" given her historic role as lieutenant governor.

Charlie Stile is a veteran New Jersey political columnist. For unlimited access to his unique insights into New Jersey’s political power structure and his powerful watchdog work, please subscribe or activate your digital account today.

Email: stile@northjersey.com 

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This article originally appeared on NorthJersey.com: Sheila Oliver: Phil Murphy mourns his 'greatest partner'