Newark Native Honored Alongside 4 Female 'Movers and Shakers': Sheila Oliver

Newark, NJ - New Jersey Assemblywoman and Newark native Sheila Oliver was among four women honored for leading legislative efforts in their districts during Emerge New Jersey’s First Annual Building The Bench Breakfast earlier this month.

Oliver represents New Jersey’s 34th Legislative District, which includes Clifton, East Orange, Montclair and Orange.

According to a news release, the May 3 event paid tribute to the following Garden State “female movers and shakers”:

• NJ Senator Linda R. Greenstein
• NJ Senator Nellie Pou
• NJ Assemblywoman Pamela Lampitt
• NJ Assemblywoman Sheila Oliver

During the ceremony, each panelist shared her journey to elected office and the challenges she overcame.

“Each honoree is a supporter of Emerge New Jersey and its efforts to change the face of New Jersey politics by identifying, training and encouraging Democratic women to run for office… We owe them a great debt of gratitude and thank them for building the bench in the state,” said Emerge New Jersey Executive Director Truscha Quatrone.

In addition to Senate President Sweeney, Assembly Speaker Vincent Prieto, NJDSC Vice Chair Lizette Delgado-Polanco, Fanwood Mayor Colleen Mahr, Former Edison Mayor Jun Choi, CWA Area Director Hetty Rosenstein, HPAE Spokeswoman Bridget Devane, Tammy Murphy, and Paul Bontempo attended the Building The Bench Breakfast.

ABOUT SHEILA OLIVER

The following biography was provided by Emerge New Jersey:

“Sheila Y. Oliver initially took the oath of office as New Jersey’s 169th Assembly Speaker on January 12. 2010. She was sworn to a second term on January 10, 2012. Oliver is the first African-American woman to lead a legislative house in New Jersey. She is also just the second African-American woman in American history to lead a legislative house, following Karen R. Bass of California, who currently serves in the U.S. Congress.

“Oliver was first elected to the Assembly in 2003, and re-elected in 2005, 2007, 2009, 2011 and 2013. In the 2008-2009 legislative session, she served as Deputy Speaker Pro Tempore, chaired the Human Services Committee and served on the Higher Education and Labor committees. She served as Assistant Majority Leader in the 2006-2007 Legislative Session.

“Oliver has sponsored legislation which increased New Jersey’s minimum wage, effective January 1, 2014, including annual adjustments based on the Consumer Price Index. Other legislative sponsorships include marriage equality, boosting the state’s Earned Income Tax Credit for the working poor, providing property tax relief for the middle-class and senior citizens and improving higher education facilities.

“She has also sponsored laws to create paid family leave, improve mental health care treatment and psychiatric hospital conditions, create the Department of Children and Families and save taxpayer money through energy savings. Oliver sponsored a number of bills designed to address New Jersey’s high unemployment rates, and to provide oversight of Hurricane Sandy related expenditures.

“Oliver is currently serving on the Commerce and Economic Development, and the Transportation and Independent Authorities legislative committees, as well as the Joint Legislative Committee on the Public Schools, and the Joint Legislative Committee on Social Justice and Equal Employment. She also serves as a member of the Assembly’s Leadership Table.”

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