Sherrill, Ciattarelli: Here’s Why I Should Be NJ Governor (In 500 Words)

A governor candidate can say a lot with 500 words.

On Wednesday, as per tradition, the New Jersey Election Law Enforcement Commission released “position statements” from two gubernatorial hopefuls: Mikie Sherrill and Jack Ciattarelli. Each candidate was limited to 500 words or less.

>> See Related: 5 Takeaways From First New Jersey Governor Debate

Sherrill captured the Democratic Party nomination in the June primary election. Ciattarelli earned the Republican Party nod. No statements were provided for the other two candidates who qualified for the ballot: Vic Kaplan (Libertarian Party) and Joanne Kuniansky (Socialist Workers Party).

Here’s what Ciattarelli and Sherrill had to say:

MIKIE SHERRILL

I pledged my first oath to the Constitution when I was 18 and entering the U.S. Naval Academy. I spent almost 10 years on active duty as a helicopter pilot and a Russian policy officer, where I led with high expectations of my team and myself. I joined the U.S. Attorney's Office in New Jersey, where I put our communities front and center to protect public safety.

I love New Jersey, and my husband and I are raising our four teenage kids here. I want to make this the best state to live, work, and raise a family. But for too many New Jerseyans, it's too damn hard to get by. Costs continue to rise, our kids are struggling, and a lack of accountability in Trenton is holding our state back. And now, President Trump's policies are making life harder and attacking our rights and freedoms.

I'm running for governor because we need a different kind of leadership. I'm a Democrat, but I'm a New Jerseyan first. I'll stand up to anyone, from special interests to my party, to deliver for our state.

In the Navy, we had a saying: Ship, Shipmate, Self. The mission was never about a single person — you always put your squadron ahead of yourself. We have to work together, and I'm ready to serve and be accountable to you.

I've listened to thousands of New Jerseyans tell me their stories, their hopes, and what keeps them up at night. What comes through loud and clear is that we all love this state. I could go on and on about people's favorite shore towns or their favorite diners. The thought of not being able to raise your kids or retire with dignity in Jersey is simply unacceptable. And I won't tolerate it.

So here's my pledge to you as your governor. I will:

• Drive down costs, starting with your energy bills – On Day One, I'll declare a State of Emergency on Utility Costs, halt rate increases, and open the floodgates on new energy infrastructure and cleaner and cheaper power generation, because more supply means lower bills. And I'll take on the grid operator driving costs up.
• Take care of our kids – Parents know that our kids are struggling. That's why I'll surge physical and mental healthcare resources into our schools, demand online safety for our kids and hold Big Tech accountable, and invest in proven solutions like high-impact tutoring in literacy and math to help get students back on track.
• Make Trenton transparent and accountable to the people – I'll make sure that New Jerseyans can see exactly where their tax dollars are going, as well as the impact of those programs. I'll also modernize state government to make it work better for residents and businesses. And I'll drive customer service and accountability at state agencies, saving you time and money.

Read my full plan for New Jersey's future at www.mikiesherrill.com. I hope to earn your vote. Let's get to work.

JACK CIATTARELLI

New Jersey needs real change — and I am the only candidate with a real plan to deliver it.

My immigrant grandparents moved to New Jersey 100 years ago and achieved — along with my own parents — the American Dream. In doing so, their hard work and sacrifice set an example for me and my siblings and provided a solid middle-class upbringing.

I am proud to have helped do the same for my four adult children, all of whom are thriving in successful careers of their own — three in New Jersey and one serving our country overseas.

Unfortunately, the opportunities we all enjoyed are slipping out of reach for today's generation and the next.

New Jersey has grown increasingly unaffordable, less safe, and controlled by politicians and special interests who don't care about what's important to working families, seniors, young people, and entrepreneurs; nor do they care about the values and traditions we hold dear.

After 8 years of Governor Murphy and 25 years of one-party Democrat control of the state legislature, our state is broken. My opponent — who is neither from New Jersey nor understands the challenges facing us —will continue these failed policies and take us in the wrong direction. We simply cannot afford 4 more years of the status quo.

That is why, with your support and as your governor, I will:

• Cut and cap property taxes so that working families and young people can afford to buy a home. while also expanding the senior property tax freeze.
• Invest in clean natural gas, nuclear, and solar, and immediately lower our monthly electric bills by reopening power plants closed by Governor Murphy, end offshore wind and the electrical vehicle mandates, and save ratepayers $300+ million by withdrawing New Jersey from the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative (RGGI). I will also clean house at the Board of Public Utilities by demanding resignations from the entire board.
• Responsibly reduce the size and cost of state government, aggressively using the line-item veto pen to eliminate and prevent waste.
• Reduce the Corporation Business Tax by one percent per year for five years, taking it from the highest rate in the nation to one that is competitive nationally; and cut income taxes for all taxpayers, consolidate tax brackets, prohibit tax increases on home improvements, and make student loan interest tax deductible.
• Last, but not least, to make New Jersey more affordable for young people, I'll make the first two years in the work force post-high school and -college tax free and refund the difference between in state and out-of-state tuition for anyone who attends college here and then lives and works in the state for a minimum of three years after graduation.

I urge everyone to visit my website at www.jack4nj.com and read more about my detailed plans for fixing the state we all love. It would be the honor of a lifetime to be your governor, and I hope to earn your support and your vote.

Send local news tips and correction requests to eric.kiefer@patch.com. Learn more about advertising on Patch here. Find out how to post announcements or events to your local Patch site.