Mikie Sherrill announced her pick for Lieutenant Governor on Thursday, tapping Dr. Dan Caldwell for the job. Caldwell is a pastor in the United Methodist Church and the President of Centenary University in Hackettstown, NJ. He formerly served as the Deputy Commissioner of the Department of Community Affairs.
According to reporting by New Jersey Globe, Sherill made her decision after narrowing the field down to three candidates, including former Assistant Attorney General Shavar Jeffries and Samuel Delgado, who serves as vice chairman of the New Jersey Cannabis Regulatory Commission.
“I’m proud to select Dale Caldwell as my Lieutenant Governor running mate because we share a commitment to public service and challenging the status quo. Dale is the son of civil rights leaders who marched with Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. in Selma,” said Sherrill. “Not only has Dale given back to the community for nearly 30 years, but he also brings experience in the private sector, higher education, nonprofits, and the Department of Community Affairs. As Jack Ciattarelli is committed to Trump, Dale and I are committed to New Jersey, and I can’t wait to hit the campaign trail with Dale this Saturday.”
Caldwell, a Princeton and Wharton graduate with a doctorate from Seton Hall University, has held leadership roles in education, government, and sports.
He became the first Black president and CEO of the U.S. Tennis Association in 2006 and co-founded the Black Tennis Hall of Fame. A lifelong player, he won gold at the 2010 New Jersey Senior Olympics and promoted adaptive and youth tennis programs.
Caldwell served as deputy commissioner of the New Jersey Department of Community Affairs, led the Newark Alliance, chaired the New Brunswick Housing Authority, and worked in public-sector consulting at Deloitte.
He spent 26 years on the New Brunswick Board of Education, including six as president, and ran charter schools in Trenton and Asbury Park. He also led Fairleigh Dickinson’s Rothman Institute and owns a consulting firm.
A third-generation clergyman, Caldwell serves as pastor of Covenant United Methodist Church in Plainfield. He is the author of eight books.
“Mikie Sherrill and I represent a different kind of leadership that sees possibilities, not a blind commitment to doing things the way they’ve always been done. My life, much like Mikie’s, has been dedicated to service: to my church, my students, and my community. That’s why I’m honored and humbled to join Mikie’s ticket. The Sherrill administration will be focused on creating opportunities for the people of New Jersey — lowering costs so families can get ahead and stay ahead,” stated Caldwell.
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