after the shocking and untimely death of New Jersey's lieutenant governor Sheila Oliver this past Tuesday Governor Murphy made his first public appearance today after returning early from his trip to Italy the governor holding a press conference to honor his former partner in politics calling Oliver a Trailblazer in every sense of the word and one of the finest public servants in New Jersey's history Murphy also saying that asking her to be his running mate was the best decision he ever made Senior political correspondent David Cruz has more on the governor's tribute to Sheila Oliver and the impact she's had on New Jersey David joins us from the State House David Joanna it's become apparent over the last few days just how powerful an impact Sheila Oliver had across this state from cities like Newark and East Orange to Camden City Trenton City and even Atlantic City they are mourning a Powerhouse today the governor spoke to the press for the first time since Oliver's death this week personally speaking Tammy and I along with our four children are devastated from the day Sheila agreed to join me in our first campaign in 2017.

I have relied on Her counsel her compassion and her courage at every single turn and during our past six years of partnership and it was by the way almost six years to the day she had become an honorary member of the family we posted after her passing I think Tuesday late in the day a photograph from the night that we introduced Sheila to our kids a magical evening in the East Ward in Newark and it's a night we'll never forget she became to them almost like an aunt and she was a sister to Tammy and me Sheila was a Trailblazer in every sense of the word over her more than five decades in public service she made history again and again as the first black woman to serve as Speaker of the general assembly as the first woman of color elected to Statewide office in our state's history and as the highest ranking black woman to ever serve the people of New Jersey but above all Sheila was the pride and joy of Essex County Oliver will lay in state here at the Rotunda on Thursday and then on Friday at the Essex County Courthouse a rare honor for a public figure that speaks to her historic career as Governor I relied on Sheila to shape our administration's policies on revitalizing our cities expanding affordable housing supporting our neighbors in need and so much more and I relied on Sheila not only because of her expertise and brilliance but because she brought her lived experience to the table both as a child of Newark and as a long time resident of East Orange she was an inspiration and icon and an Irreplaceable friend Confidant and leader and if you look at her resume she's almost if not singular in public service at all levels of government in an uncanny way at the community level at the county level in the legislature in a variety of capacities Board of Education as I recall in East Orange it's just one thing after another Murphy deferred to the family on the cause of death but said that Oliver was able to discharge her duties until she was hospitalized on Monday the governor has until September 15th to choose a replacement he said today that that process won't begin until after the funeral which is scheduled for next Saturday in Trenton I'm David Cruz NJ Spotlight news [Music]