Sheila Oliver, the lieutenant governor of New Jersey and the first Black woman to preside over the Assembly, has passed away. She was 71 years old.

In light of her passing, New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy is preparing to return from a vacation in Italy. Murphy, who owns a residence there, was slated to arrive back on August 13.

The reason of death was not disclosed. Murphy claimed that the news has devastated him and his family. He declared in a statement that choosing Oliver to be his lieutenant governor was “the best choice I’ve ever made.”

Who is Phil Murphy?

Phil Murphy is an American politician who is currently serving as the Governor of New Jersey. He was born on August 16, 1957, in Boston, Massachusetts. Before entering politics, Murphy had a successful career in the financial sector, particularly in banking and finance.

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Murphy attended Harvard University, where he earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Economics. He then went on to earn his Master of Business Administration (MBA) from The Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania.

In his professional career, Phil Murphy worked at Goldman Sachs for more than two decades, rising to become a senior executive. He also served as the U.S. Ambassador to Germany during the Obama administration from 2009 to 2013.

Phil Murphy entered politics as a Democrat, and in 2017, he ran for the governorship of New Jersey. In the 2017 gubernatorial election, he defeated the incumbent Republican Governor Chris Christie’s lieutenant governor, Kim Guadagno, to become the 56th Governor of New Jersey.

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As Governor, Phil Murphy has focused on a progressive policy agenda, advocating for issues such as increasing the minimum wage, improving healthcare access, expanding paid family leave, and advancing environmental initiatives. He has also been a vocal supporter of gun control measures and criminal justice reform.

During his tenure as Governor, Murphy has faced challenges, including managing the state’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic and implementing policies to address economic disparities and improve education.