Ciattarelli Campaigning In Lakewood On Thursday

LAKEWOOD, NJ — Republican gubernatorial candidate Jack Ciattarelli is scheduled to spend most of his day in Lakewood on Thursday, making several stops during a campaign visit to Ocean County's largest municipality.

The visit comes two days after Gov. Phil Murphy spent much of Tuesday afternoon in Lakewood, meeting with various groups in the community. Murphy was anticipated to receive the endorsement of the Vaad, the group of religious and business leaders who are the leaders of the Orthodox Jewish community in the township, the New Jersey Globe reported.

The endorsement usually carries a great deal of influence with the voters in Lakewood's Orthodox Jewish community, which typically votes heavily Republican.

The Vaad also endorsed Murphy in 2017, over his Republican opponent Kim Guadagno, the former lieutenant governor, and edged her in Lakewood in the final vote.

Ciattarelli, however, will be hoping to pick up votes by meeting people face-to-face and hearing their problems starting with those frustrated by delays in getting driver's licenses and other documentation through the state's Motor Vehicle Commission. Ciattarelli's first stop is scheduled to be at the Lakewood MVC.

His other stops include the Lakewood Police Department, a walk downtown and a rally at the municipal plaza near town hall. He's also scheduled to visit the National Chaplains Association roundtable, a synagogue, a nonprofit and visit with the Hatzolah volunteer ambulance service, which provides first aid and EMS services in Lakewood and nearby towns.

Murphy's visit to Lakewood was covered extensively by The Lakewood Scoop, which was invited to his stops by local religious leaders.

Click here to get Patch email notifications, or download our app to have breaking news alerts sent right to your phone. Have a news tip? Email karen.wall@patch.com Follow Lakewood Patch on Facebook.