First reported by InsiderNJ, Governor-elect Philip D. Murphy today announced his choice of Lieutenant Governor-elect Sheila Oliver to serve as Commissioner of the Department of Community Affairs. This is the first appointment of his administration.

“From the beginning, I made it clear that I chose Sheila as my running mate to be my partner in Trenton, not just an ally on the campaign trail,” Murphy said. “The Department of Community Affairs is critical for partnerships with local government, economic development, and affordable housing priorities, and the depth and breadth of Sheila’s experience in local, county, and state government makes her an ideal choice as Commissioner. By helping our communities move forward, Sheila will be a critical part of our mission to bring a stronger and fairer economy to all of New Jersey.”

First elected to the State Assembly in 2003, a post she will hold until the end of the current legislative session, Oliver will be New Jersey’s first female African-American statewide elected official.

“The people of New Jersey connected with the Murphy-Oliver ticket because of our message of strengthening the economy from the middle class out,” Oliver said. “Nothing is more critical to the future of our state than the future of our communities. I thank Governor-elect Murphy for this honor and for his confidence, and I look forward to working with him to bring real change for the people of New Jersey.”