Who is Tahesha Way, New Jersey's next lieutenant governor?

New Jersey has its third lieutenant governor: Secretary of State Tahesha Way.

Gov. Phil Murphy appointed Way at a Friday morning ceremony at the Statehouse. The seat had been vacant since the untimely death of Lt. Gov. Sheila Oliver on Aug. 1. Murphy had 45 days to appoint a new lieutenant governor. Way's appointment does not have to be approved by the state Senate.

Flanked by three of her four daughters and her mother-in-law, Way was sworn in by state Supreme Court Chief Justice Stuart Rabner while her husband, Charles Way, held the Bible.

Calling the path to this post the “journey of a lifetime,” Way said that the “people of New Jersey have honored me with the opportunity to serve.”

She credited her parents for teaching her to be “tough, yet respectful” and thanked Oliver as well.

“Sheila was more than a trusted colleague. She was a cherished friend, a mentor and a role model to me and the countless other Black women who have chosen a career in public service,” Way said “As Lieutenant Governor, I will have the solemn honor of building upon Sheila’s towering legacy.”

Way promised to “dedicate every day of my life to fighting for the forgotten families of our state” and said that she will work to bring down the cost of living, protect fundamental freedoms and “ensure that New Jersey remains the best—and safest—state to raise a family.”

While introducing her, Murphy called Way a “proven public servant with a superb record of accomplishments.”

“There is no better person for the job,” Murphy said. “What Tahesha has demonstrated—time and again—is that she can handle the single most important responsibility of any lieutenant governor. And that is being ready to step in, and serve as governor, if needed.”

The governor noted that Way has an “ample track record as a leader” and “has served at nearly every level of our state’s government.”

“In the face of a once-in-a-century pandemic, along with a relentless assault on our democracy, led by a certain former president who will remain unnamed, Tahesha went above and beyond to secure our election system here in New Jersey,” Murphy said. “So Tahesha turned that unprecedented challenge into a critical opportunity. She seized the moment to help more New Jerseyans than ever turn out and exercise their most fundamental right. That is the definition of leadership.”

Murphy acknowledged that Oliver had been “one of the finest public servants our state has ever known” and said that “with Sheila gone, it is now our turn to keep her legacy alive.”

Murphy's pick: Secretary of State Tahesha Way to be named new lieutenant governor by Gov. Phil Murphy

Who is Tahesha Way?

Each lieutenant governor has held another cabinet post, so Way will retain her role as Secretary of State. Her responsibilities there include overseeing the state Division of Elections, chairing the state’s commission for the 2020 census and handling the state government offices supporting the arts, culture, history and business communities.

She was the first Black president of the National Association of Secretaries of State and is on the Council of State Governments and the U.S. Election Assistance Commission Board of Advisors.

Before taking the Cabinet post in the Murphy administration, Way was an administrative law judge for five years and taught law at Fairleigh Dickinson University and was elected to the Passaic County Board of Chosen Freeholders, serving as freeholder director in 2009. She also served as special counsel for the county's Board of Social Services.

Way has an undergraduate degree from Brown University and has a law degree from the University of Virginia School of Law at Charlottesville, where she clerked for the Virginia Legal Aid Society and the United Steelworkers of America.

A native of the Bronx, Way was also considered as a running mate for former Gov. Jon Corzine as well as Murphy.

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What does the New Jersey lt. governor do?

Way will serve as lieutenant governor for the remainder of Murphy’s term and assume the role of acting governor when Murphy is unable to fulfill his duties.

The position was created as the result of a constitutional amendment to the New Jersey Constitution approved by the voters on Nov. 8, 2005, and effective as of Jan. 17, 2006.

The need for such a spot was brought about by a spate of incidents that left previous governors unable to fulfill their duties, as in the case of Gov. Jon Corzine, or due to resignations, such as Govs. Jim McGreevey and Christine Todd Whitman. In the last two instances, Senate presidents filled the role of acting governor for more than a year.

Kim Guadagno, a Republican and former Monmouth County sheriff, was New Jersey's first lieutenant governor and was elected alongside her running mate, former Gov. Chris Christie, in 2009. She was inaugurated in 2010. Oliver ran alongside Murphy in 2017 and was inaugurated in January 2018.

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

This article originally appeared on NorthJersey.com: NJ Lieutenant Governor: Tahesha Way selected by Gov. Phil Murphy