Gov. Mikie Sherrill of New Jersey is expected to appoint Shirley U. Emehelu, a former federal and state prosecutor, as her lieutenant governor on Monday, according to two state officials familiar with the decision who were not authorized to discuss the selection.
Ms. Sherrill’s original second in command, Dr. Dale G. Caldwell, resigned in September after a sexual harassment inquiry found that he had violated state workplace standards.
Ms. Emehelu has worked as a close aide to a former New Jersey attorney general, Matthew J. Platkin, and in a watchdog role as the state’s comptroller. Since September, she has served as the acting secretary of state.
The position of lieutenant governor was created by referendum in 2005, and Ms. Emehelu would be the fifth person to serve in the role. In New Jersey, lieutenant governors are responsible for taking over when governors are out of state and also hold a separate, cabinet-level job; the last two lieutenant governors have served as secretary of state.
New Jersey is expected to join a handful of other states — including Arkansas, Iowa, Massachusetts and Virginia — where the governor and the lieutenant governor are both women. In New York, Adrienne Adams was elected Tuesday as lieutenant governor, joining Gov. Kathy Hochul, who secured another term.
Mr. Platkin, whose term ended in January, applauded the selection of Ms. Emehelu, who was a top ranking official in the attorney general’s office for more than two years.
“Shirley is a committed and passionate public servant who has dedicated her career to protecting the public and serving our state,” he said on Friday. “She’s also just an incredibly decent and ethical person.”
Before joining state government, Ms. Emehelu worked in private practice and as a prosecutor in the U.S. attorney’s office in New Jersey, where Ms. Sherrill also worked.
Ms. Emehelu’s expected appointment was first reported by The New Jersey Globe.
Dr. Caldwell, the former president of Centenary University, stepped down as lieutenant governor and secretary of state after just eight months in office, after the release of findings from an investigation commissioned by Ms. Sherrill. Investigators concluded that he had used sexually charged language and had exploited his position to try to secure a promotion for a girlfriend and dates for himself.
Dr. Caldwell, 66, and his lawyer rejected the findings. “It’s false,” Dr. Caldwell said at the time. He also challenged the methodology of the investigation, which was conducted by an outside law firm, and said he had decided to resign because he did not want to be a distraction to the administration.
On Friday, he, too, praised Ms. Emehelu, calling her “very smart and dedicated.”
“She will be a very good lieutenant governor,” he added.
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