Governor Murphy Commissions Official Portrait of Lieutenant Governor Oliver for the New Jersey State House
Governor Murphy Commissions Official Portrait of Lieutenant Governor Oliver for the New Jersey State House
TRENTON – In remembrance of The Honorable Lieutenant Governor Sheila Y. Oliver, Governor Phil Murphy today announced the commissioning of her official portrait for display in the New Jersey State House. A portrait will also be commissioned for Lieutenant Governor Kim Guadagno, who served as New Jersey’s first Lieutenant Governor.“As we continue to remember the life and service of Lieutenant Governor Oliver, I am deeply moved to announce the commissioning of a portrait that will stand as a testament to her legacy,” said Governor Murphy. “Sheila’s unwavering dedication to the people of New Jersey has left an enduring mark on our state, one that will be immortalized in the halls of our State House forever.”“Lieutenant Governors play pivotal roles in gubernatorial administrations, but to date, unlike former governors, they have not been recognized with official portraits,” continued Governor Murphy. “It is time to address this shortcoming and set a new standard to commemorate their time in public service. I couldn’t think of two more deserving candidates for these portraits than these two exceptional women who have served our state with distinction for decades.”“As we continue to grapple with the passing of our beloved Sheila, our hearts swell with pride and gratitude for the lasting mark she left on New Jersey,” said the Oliver Family. “This portrait will stand as a tribute not only to her remarkable career of public service, but also as a source of inspiration for generations to come. This is a testament to her enduring legacy and unwavering commitment to her community and state.”“I would first like to extend my deepest sympathies to the family, friends, and colleagues of Lieutenant Governor Oliver, who made a lasting mark on our state through her incredible career of public service,” said former Lieutenant Governor Kim Guadagno. “Sheila was a well-respected colleague whose historic tenure as Assembly Speaker overlapped with my time as Lieutenant Governor. And, as the first two Lieutenant Governors of New Jersey, Sheila and I shared a unique bond of serving the residents of our great state.”“In light of her passing, I am incredibly grateful to Governor Murphy for his decision to commission and display our portraits in the State House and humbled that our time in office will be recognized with such an honor. I’m deeply proud of my time in public service and honored to have shared this journey with Sheila. May she Rest in Peace,” she continued.By commissioning portraits for both Lieutenant Governor Oliver and Lieutenant Governor Guadagno, the Governor seeks to establish a precedent so all former Lieutenant Governors are honored with this recognition. Over the next few months, the Oliver family and former Lieutenant Governor Guadagno will work with the Governor’s Office to select portraiture artists to begin the portraits, a process that generally takes well over a year.Official portrait unveilings will be scheduled upon completion of the projects.
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