After a dead-last finish in the Senate race earlier this month, Sheila Oliver’s days as the most powerful African-American woman politico in the state may well be numbered, according various sources in Trenton.
As state assembly speaker, Oliver has had a rocky tenure since 2009. She has clashed with a number of constituents; repeatedly challenged Gov. Chris Christie on a wide range of issues; and made a number of missteps in the past few years. In her failed bid to win the state Democratic Senate nomination, Oliver sharply criticized Brick City mayor and eventual winner Cory Booker.The two were the only African-American candidates running for the vacant Senate seat of the late Frank Lautenberg.
Her remarks have raised eyebrows among observers. For example, in July, she sponsored a bill that almost failed on the Assembly floor due, at least in part, to her inability to quickly gather the votes needed in order to pass the measure. Additionally, Democratic Senate President Stephen Sweeney recently bypassed Oliver on another bill in order to get a piece of legislation passed. Oliver initially supported the measure and then reportedly waffled when it came to fast-tracking the legislation. Sweeney and Oliver had enjoyed a good professional relationship, which has since become strained tenuous.
The Assembly term ends in January, and if certain Trenton politicos have their way, Oliver won’t be there. She has not commented at length about what, if any, are her political plans for the future.
“I think she has good intentions, but she really hasn’t followed through on a lot of her promises,” said one Trenton resident. “I think she talks a lot but doesn’t deliver.”
Finally, in a related matter, in a recent interview with the Washington Post, Booker was asked, once again, if he’s gay—a rumor that has circulated throughout his two terms as mayor. Said Booker, “People who think I’m gay, some part of me think it’s wonderful, because I want to challenge people on their [own] homophobia! So what does it matter if I am? So be it!”