Statement from Mayor W. Reed Gusciora on the Passing of Lt. Governor Sheila Oliver

Flags to Fly at Half-Staff in Honor of Former Lt. Governor

Today, I join colleagues, friends, and family in mourning the passing of Lieutenant Governor Sheila Oliver. Starting out as a member of the East Orange Board of Education, then as an Essex County Commissioner, Assemblywoman, Assembly Speaker, and finally as Lt. Governor, Sheila Oliver was a New Jerseyan through and through.  

Sheila was a trailblazer herself, and an advocate for equality of others. She became the first Black woman to serve as Speaker of the New Jersey General Assembly in 2010, and I was proud to join my fellow Assembly Democrats in unanimously electing her to that office. In 2012, she oversaw the passage of our marriage equality legislation in the Assembly, and continued to advocate for marriage equality until it became the law of this great State.

I knew her as a colleague and a friend: I was honored to serve with Sheila in the Assembly for 14 years. And for the last five years, I’ve continued to work with her in her roles as Lieutenant Governor and Commissioner of the Department of Community Affairs. She was the calm in the midst of storm, the voice of reason in the midst of division, and the embodiment of hope during times of despair. Her advocacy was fueled by the unyielding belief that everyone deserved to be treated equally under the law and that we all could do our part to change history.

I am deeply saddened to hear of her passing and on behalf of the Capital City, we send our deepest condolences to Sheila’s family and to all those who knew her. I hereby order that flags be flown at half-staff at city buildings and facilities from today until the Lt. Governor’s interment.