Tragedy struck New Jersey’s leadership this week.
Democrat Governor Phil Murphy tossed the keys to the state capitol to Lt. Gov. Sheila Oliver and took his family to Italy for an extended vacation.
He is probably going to have to cut that short because Oliver fell ill on Monday and was pronounced dead on Tuesday, reported CBS Philadelphia.
She’s Gone
Oliver, who was 71 years, left the state in a bit of turmoil. With Murphy out of town, Senate President Nick Scutari now has to serve as the acting governor.
Details are limited as to what happened to her, but as we stated above, she was rushed to the hospital on Monday, then she was gone.
Her family stated, “Sheila Y. Oliver leaves behind a legacy of dedication, service, and inspiration. We will remember her commitment to the people of New Jersey and her tireless efforts to uplift the community,” reported Politico.
Former Governor Chris Christie offered some very kind words to Oliver, stating, “The passing of Lt. Gov. Sheila Oliver is a loss for our state.
“I will miss Sheila. She served as Speaker in my first term and we treated each other with kindness and respect. We got things done. She was a great person and partner.”
Governor Murphy issued a statement from Italy, which read, in part, “I knew then that her decades of public service made her the ideal partner for me to lead the State of New Jersey. It was the best decision I ever made.”
It was not clear at the time if Murphy will head back home or if he will stay on vacation, which was slated to run through the middle of the month.
Oliver was considered a trailblazer in New Jersey politics, with the words “first” in front of just about every position she held throughout her political career.
Per the New Jersey State Constitution, Murphy has 45 days to pick a successor.
