Assemblywoman Sheila Oliver took the oath of office to become NJ’s second Lieutenant Governor and the first African-American LG shortly after 11:35AM.

She noted the significance of the inaugural date, one day after MLK Day.

“I look forward to continuing to work with my friends in the Legislature to build a stronger and fairer New Jersey that this administration is committed to,” she said.  “I shall miss being a member of our state Legislature.  For 14 years, it has been an honor and a privilege to serve the people of Essex County.  The only county with the exception of my college years that I have ever called my home – you can clap to that!’

“We may have different ideas, but we all have one goal: improving the lives of our fellow residents,” she said to her former colleagues.  “You have taught me so much about leadership.”

“I will seek to bridge divides, but I will not give up my voice where I see division,” she said,  a few moments later evoking the memory of Shirley Chisolm, the first African-American woman elected to Congress in the state, to cheers from the audience.

‘You don’t make progress sitting on the sidelines, you make progress by implementing ideas”, she said. “Our potential is limitless.”