N.J. Admin. Code § Executive Order No. 338 (2023)
Governor Philip D. Murphy
Executive Order No. 338 (2023)
An Order Directing that Flags Be Flown at Half-Staff at All State Department Offices, Agencies, and Instrumentalities During Appropriate Hours From Friday, August 4, 2023, Through Monday, September 4, 2023, in Recognition of and Mourning of Lieutenant Governor Sheila Oliver
Issued: August 3, 2023.
Effective: August 3, 2023.
WHEREAS, Lieutenant Governor Sheila Oliver was born Sheila Y. Oliver on July 14, 1952, in Newark, New Jersey; and
WHEREAS, prior to serving by my side as Lieutenant Governor for over five and a half years, Lieutenant Governor Oliver lived a truly remarkable life; and
WHEREAS, after graduating from Weequahic High School in Newark, New Jersey in 1970, Lieutenant Governor Oliver attended Lincoln University in Pennsylvania, where she graduated cum laude with a Bachelor of Arts in Sociology; and
WHEREAS, Lieutenant Governor Oliver received a Master's degree in planning and administration from Columbia University in New York City in 1976; and
WHEREAS, Lieutenant Governor Oliver worked in the public and private sectors, serving as executive director of The Leaguers, a northern New Jersey non-profit social services organization, and as an adjunct faculty member at Essex County College and Caldwell University, among other roles; and
WHEREAS, Lieutenant Governor Oliver began her long and distinguished career in public service in 1994 as a member of the Board of Education of the East Orange School District, and served there until 2000, including terms as Vice President and President; and
WHEREAS, in 2003, Lieutenant Governor Oliver was elected to represent the 34th District in the New Jersey General Assembly, and was re-elected seven times to that seat; and
WHEREAS, in January 2010, Lieutenant Governor Oliver made history by becoming the first Black woman to serve as Speaker of the New Jersey General Assembly, and just the second Black woman in United States history to lead a state legislative chamber; and
WHEREAS, during her four years as Speaker, Lieutenant Governor Oliver stood up for and successfully preserved important progressive priorities, including affordable housing, while also working across the aisle on major issues; and
WHEREAS, because of Lieutenant Governor Oliver's leadership and passionate advocacy, the General Assembly passed a historic bill that would have legalized same-sex marriage in 2012; and
WHEREAS, Lieutenant Governor Oliver was known as an independent and principled Assembly Speaker who earned the respect of all of her colleagues, Democrat and Republican alike; and
WHEREAS, when I ran for Governor in 2017, I selected Lieutenant Governor Oliver to be my running mate because I knew her decades of public service, her unparalleled knowledge of state and local government, and her unshakeable integrity made her the ideal partner to run state government; and
WHEREAS, after Lieutenant Governor Oliver and I were elected by the people of New Jersey, Lieutenant Governor Oliver made history again by becoming the fourth Black woman to become a Lieutenant Governor in United States history, and the first woman of color to hold any statewide office in New Jersey history; and
WHEREAS, upon taking office, I asked Lieutenant Governor Oliver to serve as Commissioner of Community Affairs, because I knew that her extensive knowledge of urban policy and local governments would serve all of our communities well; and
WHEREAS, Lieutenant Governor Oliver was again my partner in the 2021 gubernatorial campaign, which resulted in re-election; and
WHEREAS, for the last five and a half years, Lieutenant Governor Oliver's leadership has led to substantial revitalization of many of New Jersey's cities, record investments in affordable housing, and historic efforts to address homelessness; and
WHEREAS, Lieutenant Governor Oliver brought a unique credibility to tackle these issues, because as a native of Newark and long-time resident of East Orange, she did not see these issues in the abstract but instead lived with them every day of her life; and
WHEREAS, Lieutenant Governor Oliver ably took the reins of state government on numerous occasions, including during one of our most challenging times when I was recovering from surgery to remove a cancerous tumor and when Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) cases were first being detected in our State; and
WHEREAS, on August 1, 2023, Lieutenant Governor Oliver tragically passed away at the age of 71; and
WHEREAS, Tammy and I, and our children, are heartbroken at the loss of our friend, colleague, and partner in government; and
WHEREAS, our deepest sympathies and condolences go out to the Oliver family, including her mother Jennie and her brother Charles, and all those who knew and loved her; and
WHEREAS, while Lieutenant Governor Oliver's passing leaves a void in state government that can never truly be filled, she leaves behind a model of public service and integrity that serves as a template for us all; and
WHEREAS, Lieutenant Governor Oliver cared deeply about public service and believed it created an obligation to be a voice for the voiceless and serve the most vulnerable among us; and
WHEREAS, Lieutenant Governor Oliver was and will continue to be a particular inspiration to millions of women and girls, especially young women of color; and
WHEREAS, I know that selecting Lieutenant Governor Oliver to be my running mate was the best decision I ever made; and
WHEREAS, Lieutenant Governor Oliver will be sorely missed by her family, friends, and the people of New Jersey whom she served so well; and
WHEREAS, it is appropriate for all New Jerseyans to remember Lieutenant Governor Oliver's trailblazing legacy and for the State to mourn her loss;
NOW, THEREFORE, I, PHILIP D. MURPHY, Governor of the State of New Jersey, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the Constitution and by the Statutes of this State, do hereby ORDER and DIRECT:
N.J. Admin. Code Executive Order No. 338 (2023)