Scutari sworn in as acting governor as Sherrill campaigns in Midwest

Senate President Nicholas Scutari was sworn in as acting governor today by Superior Court Judge John Deitch as Gov. Mikie Sherrill began a two-day campaign trip to Illinois and Ohio.

Scutari quickly exercised his executive authority, signing legislation allowing certain limited liability companies to terminate registered alternate names before their five-year registration periods expire.

The measure, S-1395/A-4955, was sponsored by Senators Joseph Lagana (D-Paramus and Assemblywoman Lisa Swain (D-Fair Lawn).  It addresses businesses operating under names other than their formal company names, giving eligible LLCs a way to end those registrations early.

Scutari is serving as acting governor because the lieutenant governor’s office remains vacant following Dale Caldwell’s September 25 resignation.  His departure moved the Senate president into the role of exercising gubernatorial authority whenever Sherrill leaves New Jersey.

Caldwell resigned after Sherrill demanded his departure following an internal investigation that substantiated sexual harassment and ethics violations. He has disputed the findings and challenged the investigation’s fairness.

Sherrill’s trip is her first outside New Jersey since the Caldwell controversy became public September 4. She had paused accepting new out-of-state invitations while the allegations remained unresolved.

Today, Sherrill is scheduled to deliver the keynote address at Personal PAC’s 33rd Anniversary Awards Lunch in Chicago. The organization supports candidates who favor reproductive rights.

On Friday, she will headline an Ohio fundraiser for Democratic gubernatorial nominee Amy Acton, a physician and former state health director facing Republican Vivek Ramaswamy in November.

Sherrill has until November 9 to appoint a new lieutenant governor to fill the vacancy.