NJ lawmakers, leaders offer tributes to Lt. Gov. Sheila Oliver after her death

New Jersey lawmakers and leaders are sharing their thoughts and offering condolences to the Oliver family after Lt. Gov. Sheila Oliver died Tuesday morning at the age of 71.

Craig Coughlin: 'We will miss her wisdom'

Assembly Speaker Craig Coughlin said he has known Oliver since he was first elected to the Legislature.

“She was my first speaker. I had a front row seat to see her break the glass ceiling and become New Jersey’s first Black woman speaker, and New Jersey’s first Black lieutenant governor,” Coughlin said. “Sheila was an extraordinary person. She was deeply committed to the people she served, and the state she loved. We will miss her wisdom, leadership, and passion. On a personal level, Tish and I will miss our friend, and I will cherish the 14 years we shared serving New Jersey together.”

Matthew Platkin: 'She was fearless'

Attorney General Matthew Platkin called Oliver a “hero" in offering a remembrance.

“She was brilliant. She was fearless. And she was unfailingly kind. Her life was marked by service — to her community, her county, her state, and her country,” he said. “Millions of New Jerseyans live in a more just and equitable state thanks to her efforts … She showed young women, in particular, that truly anything is possible. But more than anything, she never forgot what this work was all about: the people.”

Platkin went on to say that he is “immensely grateful to have been able to learn some small amount from her example and I know that her impact will be felt for generations to come” and that the “world needs more Sheila Olivers.”

M. Teresa Ruiz: 'She embodied the spirit of a warrior.'

State Senate Majority Leader M. Teresa Ruiz said that Oliver “embodied the spirit of a warrior, she was a fierce advocate for our communities and led with resilience and compassion.

“Sheila Oliver's legacy will forever be etched in New Jersey's history as the first woman of color to hold a statewide elected office. Her passion for social justice, women's equality, and education was unwavering, and she used her position to advocate for a fairer and more equitable society,” Ruiz said. “Her impact extended beyond legislation; she touched the lives of countless individuals through mentorship and friendship. Her dedication to public service was rooted in the belief that government should work for the people, and she lived by that principle every day.”

Anthony Bucco: 'Her legacy will forever live on'

The state Senate Minority Leader said that Oliver's "legacy will forever live on as a trailblazer for women in New Jersey, becoming not only the first Black woman to serve as Speaker of the General Assembly, but also just the second in the Nation to lead a legislative body.

“When I first entered the General Assembly, I had the honor of working with Sheila as Speaker. She was a devout public servant and an incredibly kind person," Bucco said. "I know many of our members will have fond memories of serving with Sheila and her professionalism. I will miss our friendship and work together."

John DiMaio: 'She was a force, but not forceful'

Assembly Minority Leader John DiMaio, a Warren County Republican, said that even when she was speaker, Oliver “remained a grounded leader who stood up for the concerns of her community” and that “she was a force, but not forceful.”

Angela McKnight: 'She made us proud to follow in her footsteps.'

"To have an African American woman serving as acting governor was a proud occasion, and she handled her role with dignity and elegance. She made us proud to follow in her footsteps," Assemblywoman Angela McKnight, chair of the New Jersey Legislative Black Caucus Foundation and chair of the Hudson County Legislative Black Caucus,said. "When she became Lt. Governor, we all became Lt. Governor. Now that she has passed on, we must honor her and continue serving to the top."

Shavonda Sumter: 'She paved the way for Black and Brown women.'

"Few are the giants that become influential figures who change the trajectory of history/herstory. Lieutenant Governor Sheila Oliver is a giant who has been the first Black woman to hold many political positions," Assemblywoman Shavonda Sumter said. "Lt. Governor Sheila Oliver loved and dedicated her life to serving the people of New Jersey. She ensured that the people were always at the forefront. Her great wealth of knowledge and history was invaluable and helped to benefit many in our great state. Lt. Governor Oliver’s influence transcended generations and she paved the way for Black and Brown women to pursue higher office. She taught us the importance of being informed, skilled, and graceful."

U.S. Senate reactions

Sen. Bob Menendez and Sen. Cory Booker also issued statements about Oliver and what she meant to the Garden State. Menendez said that throughout her time in public service, "Oliver was an inspiration to all of us who dream of an equal and prosperous future.

"This is how I will choose to remember Lieutenant Governor Oliver: as a fighter, as a reformer, and as a committed leader for a better tomorrow in our state," he said.

Booker called Oliver's death a "tremendous loss for New Jersey, for her family and for all of us who loved and worked with her. Sheila Oliver was a trailblazer whose legacy of service will long be remembered."

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Congressional reactions

It wasn’t just leaders with whom Oliver worked regularly in Trenton expressing kind words. Several members of the state’s congressional delegation also spoke highly of the lieutenant governor and her service to the state.

Bonnie Watson Coleman: 'She was a fierce advocate for the economically disadvantaged'

Rep. Bonnie Watson Coleman, a Democrat who represents the 1st Congressional District, said she was “blessed to know and work with Sheila for many decades, dating back to my time in the executive branch and her work with the Newark Coalition for Low Income Housing.

“She was a fierce advocate for the economically disadvantaged, for equal opportunities, and was one of the finest examples of a public servant our state has seen,” Watson Coleman said. “Her legacy goes beyond her leadership as lieutenant governorship, her Speakership, or her role as commissioner of the Department of Community Affairs. Her greatest legacy exists in the communities she fought for, her instrumental role in raising the state’s minimum wage, the women’s health services she championed to fund, and the affordable housing she advocated for.”

Bill Pascrell: A 'pathbreaker'

Rep. Bill Pascrell Jr., the veteran Democrat who represents the 9th Congressional District, said he was devastated and called Oliver a “pathbreaker” and “one of the foremost leaders of our great state for decades.”

Frank Pallone: A 'trailblazer in every sense of the word'

Oliver was a “trailblazer in every sense of the word and always fought for what was right,” said Rep. Frank Pallone Jr., Democrat of the 6th Congressional District. Pallone noted that Oliver's “dedication to public service, social justice, and equality made New Jersey a better place.”

Tom Kean Jr.: 'Her leadership and advocacy will be sorely missed.'

Rep. Tom Kean Jr., a Republican who represents the 7th Congressional District, called Oliver a “dedicated public servant who brought passion, integrity, and compassion to her work.”

“From East Orange to the Statehouse, Lieutenant Governor Oliver's commitment to improving the lives of her constituents was tireless,” Kean said. “Her leadership and advocacy will be sorely missed.”

Rob Menendez: 'An unrelenting fighter for the people of New Jersey'

Rep. Rob Menendez, the Democrat who represents the 6th Congressional District, called Oliver's death a "devastating loss for our state, for all the communities that she served in the Assembly and later as Lieutenant Governor and Commissioner of the Department of Community Affairs."

"I will always carry with me the opportunities I had to spend in her company and watch her masterfully perform her duties and obligations to the great people of the State of New Jersey whom she cherished," he said.

Josh Gottheimer: 'A fighter for the voiceless'

“Jersey lost a trailblazer today," said Rep. Josh Gottheimer, who represents the 5th Congressional District . "Lt. Governor Sheila Oliver was a fighter for the voiceless."

Mikie Sherrill: 'Made her native Essex County proud'

“Sheila time and again made history and was an inspiration to young girls across New Jersey," Rep. Mikie Sherrill, a Democrat who represents the 11th District said. "Throughout her time in public office, she made her native Essex County proud with her leadership, grace, and effectiveness."

Other leaders share tributes

The president and CEO of the New Jersey Business and Industry Association, Michele Siekerka, called it a “very sad day for the state of New Jersey.”

"Lieutenant Governor Oliver was long established as a trailblazer in Trenton before representing Governor Murphy. Her dedication to underserved communities throughout her years of public service made a clear and lasting impact,” Siekerka said. "Beyond being a loyal public servant to the state, especially in her leadership role with the Department of Community Affairs, Lieutenant Governor Oliver was also a strong and inspirational advocate for women business owners over the years. We were always appreciative of her working with NJBIA in our collective pursuit of advancing women’s leadership in our great state.”

American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees Director Steve Tully said that he was "honored to have had the opportunity to work so closely with her in an effort to keep New Jersey’s essential services running smoothly and efficiently for all residents and making the lives of working people better."

Katie Sobko covers the New Jersey Statehouse. Email: sobko@northjersey.com

This article originally appeared on NorthJersey.com: Sheila Oliver: NJ leaders pay tribute after lieutenant governor dies