TRENTON, N.J. (AP) - The first Republican with establishment credentials to join the race to succeed Gov. Chris Christie has announced his 2017 candidacy.
Republican Assemblyman Jack Ciattarelli declared his candidacy Tuesday during an event at Manville High School.
Contending that New Jersey has been headed in the wrong direction for decades and now is at a tipping point, Ciattarelli pledged his campaign would be “fueled by ideas, focused on solutions and fearless in challenging conventional wisdom.” He said his five-point campaign plan would be focused on school funding, pension and tax reform, streamlined government and bipartisan communication.
Ciattarelli joins Democrat Phil Murphy as the only two candidates with establishment credentials in the race. He has said, unlike Christie, he does not support Donald Trump.
The owner and publisher of Galen Publishing, which produces medical literature, Ciattarelli represents a district that includes Princeton. He’s been in the Democrat-led Legislature since 2012.
Ciattarelli says he considers education a key issue and that the state has been heading in the wrong direction under Democrats and Republicans for decades.
Christie’s term ends in January 2018.
The Republican and Democratic primaries are in June 2017. The general election is in November 2017.
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This article has been corrected to show Ciattarelli and Murphy are the first two candidates with establishment credentials to join the race.
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