A few days away from New Jersey’s gubernatorial election, Republican candidate Jack Ciattarelli campaigned in hopes of convincing New Jersey voters.
Ciattarelli visited multiple locations across the state on Wednesday, Oct. 27, including Wayne, Ramsey and Paramus, among other New Jersey towns, sharing his promises as Gov. Phil Murphy’s competitor.
Sen. Holly Schepisi’s support for Ciattarelli was made clear with her opening statement at the Republican’s Club event “Coffee with Jack,” hosted at Majestic Diner in Ramsey, New Jersey.
Ciattarelli meets with supporters in New Jersey, after delivering a speech.
Photo courtesy of Michelle Coneo
“So, who’s ready for a new governor?” Schepisi asked.
At the event, other speakers such as Congress candidate, Frank Pallotta, introduced Ciattarelli and spoke highly of his potential term as a governor.
Ciattarelli discussed his focus points and mentioned his opponent’s campaign strategy.
“In the past week and a half, they brought in Joe Biden and then they brought Barack Obama; In this week, it’s Kamala Harris, bringing in Bernie Sanders,” Ciattarelli said. “Guys, I don’t give a damn if he brings in the ghost of [Franklin D. Roosevelt] — we’re winning on Tuesday.”
A Ciattarelli supporter during the candidate’s speech.
Photo courtesy of Michelle Coneo
Followed by the chants of his supporters, Ciattarelli continued to discuss the differences in viewpoints between him and his opponent, expressing how he believes Murphy has failed New Jerseyans since he was elected.
“Time and time again, [Murphy] has been asleep at the wheel,” Ciattarelli said.“Here’s this guy’s great challenge: he wasn’t raised here, never went to school here. [He] never worked here. [He] never owned a business here. He’s not Mahwah [and] he’s not Bergen County. He’s not New Jersey and in six days with your help, he’s not our governor.”
Ciattarelli’s supporters at the Republican’s Club event hosted at Majestic Diner in Ramsey, New Jersey.
Photo courtesy of Michelle Coneo
Ciattarelli also laid out his platform at the event. He affirmed that he stands for lower property taxes, including a new school funding formula. He plans on creating more jobs to build the reputation of the state as a better place to do business and promised to support the police.
He continued on with the topic of education, commenting on how much he values the idea of reinstating the teaching of critical life skills in New Jersey public schools. He wants to provide vocational training for kids who may not want to or need to go to college.
Ciattarelli attributed why education is so important to him by sharing with his supporters a personal story of his parents working multiple jobs, including midnight shifts and the handling of their own family business with the desire of providing him and his three siblings with the quality education they could afford.
“Whenever my parents saw successful people, they would point to that person and say [to] my sister, my two brothers and me: ‘There’s somebody you wanna aspire to be. There’s somebody you wanna be like,’” Ciattarelli said.
Ciattarelli’s supporters wear campaigning T-shirts, displaying “I Back Jack.”
Photo courtesy of Michelle Coneo
Through his speech, Ciattarelli made clear to his supporters and possible voters that although he is vaccinated and encourages vaccination, that he has no intention of mandating New Jerseyans to do so. He believes that everyone has the right to choose when it comes to vaccination.
Among many other plans regarding education, the candidate urged the community to go out and vote, to tell their friends and encourage them to vote for him, mentioning that if he is to be elected, he would go to the towns he did not win.
Ciattarelli takes selfies with supporters at Republican Club’s meeting.
Photo courtesy of Michelle Coneo
“I respect your right to vote for whomever you choose. But [when] the election is over, would you partner with me and make New Jersey better?” Ciattarelli said.
After a few rounds of applause by the attendees, Ciattarelli shared his final remarks.
“Phil Murphy, one and done in [2021],” Ciattarelli said. “So, let’s get it done. We can do this.”
