Two New Jersey gubernatorial candidates checked off a big item on their summer to-do list this week: selecting a running mate for the fall election.
Democrat Phil Murphy chose Assemblywoman and former Speaker Sheila Oliver on Wednesday, while Republican Kim Guadagno selected Woodcliff Lake Mayor Carlos Rendo on Thursday. The two are running in the November election to be New Jersey’s next Lt. Governor.
Oliver, of East Orange, is Assistant Essex County Administrator and has represented North Jersey’s 34th District since 2004 and served as Assembly Speaker from 2010 through 2013.
“Sheila is the perfect person to help create an economy that is stronger and fairer for all New Jerseyans,” said Murphy. “In the Assembly, Sheila has been a strong leader in standing up for working people against powerful interests. Most of all, she knows the hard work New Jerseyans do every day to put food on their tables and make ends meet.”
Go here for Oliver’s campaign bio.
Rendo, an attorney, was born in Cuba in 1964 and came to the United States with his family. He was elected to Woodcliff Lake’s Borough Council in 2013, eventually becoming council president. He was elected mayor in 2016.
“As mayor of Woodcliff Lake, Carlos has built a reputation as a strong, bipartisan leader and advocate for lower taxes, open space and transparent government,” said Gaudagno. “As lieutenant governor, he will put that experience to work for New Jersey families to help me lower property taxes and audit all aspects of Trenton.”
Go here and scroll down for Rendo’s campaign bio.
Mark Your Calendar for the Debates
The New Jersey Election Law Enforcement Commission has announced the dates and locations of two debates in New Jersey’s gubernatorial election.
The first will be at 7 p.m. Oct. 10 at the New Jersey Performing Arts Center in Newark. It will be co-hosted by WABC-TV in New York, WPVI-TV in Philadelphia, Univision in New York and Philadelphia, NJ Advance Media, NJBIZ, NJ Spotlight, El Diario, Rutgers University, League of Women Voters NJ, Lead NJ, and the National Association of Latino Elected Officials.
The second debate is scheduled for 7 p.m. Oct. 18 at William Paterson University in Wayne. It will be co-hosted by WCBS-TV in New York, WKYW-TV in Philadelphia, The Record and other Gannett New Jersey newspapers.
