Rebovich Institute to host conversation with Jack Ciattarelli on March 9

The Rebovich Institute for New Jersey Politics at Rider University will host Jack Ciattarelli, the presumptive Republican nominee for New Jersey governor, for a virtual event on March 9. 

"A Discussion with Jack Ciattarelli" will feature a conversation as well as a Q&A session beginning at 11:30 a.m. 

Ciattarelli declared his candidacy for governor in January 2020. He previously ran in 2017 but lost the primary to former Lt. Gov. Kim Guadagno. This year's primary is scheduled for June 8, with the gubernatorial election to follow on Nov. 2. In laying out his priorities, Ciattarelli named lowering property taxes, growing the economy and cutting spending at the top of his agenda during a speech that kicked off his current campaign.  

“To provide real opportunity for our middle class, the working poor, minorities, those in the trades, our college graduates, we’ve got to change the direction of our broken state," he said. "We’ve got to lower property taxes. We’ve got to bring businesses back to New Jersey."

While Gov. Phil Murphy, a Democrat, currently enjoys favorable poll numbers, New Jersey has not re-elected a Democratic governor to a second term in more than 40 years. 

“Ciattarelli is navigating a complex political landscape in his quest to win the governorship, made even more complex by the pandemic and the intense national partisan divide,” says Micah Rasmussen, the director of the Rebovich Institute.

Representing District 16, Ciattarelli was a member of the New Jersey General Assembly from 2011 to 2018, including four years as assistant minority whip. He also previously served as a Raritan Borough councilman and Somerset County freeholder. He received a Bachelor of Science in Accounting and a Master of Business Administration in Finance, both from Seton Hall. 

The Rebovich Institute is dedicated to public service and scholarly analysis of government, public policy, campaigns and elections in New Jersey. It was founded in 2001 by the late Professor David Rebovich (1949–2007). Today, the Rebovich Institute is a dynamic and creative home where students can network, study and gain practical experience in New Jersey politics.

Several other events hosted by the Rebovich Institute will take place at Rider this spring. A virtual event with Sen. Cory Booker is scheduled for March 30 and a virtual discussion with United States District Judge Robert E. Grossman ’73 will take place April 1. 

"A Discussion with Jack Ciattarelli" is free and open to the public, but advanced registration is requested by visiting rider.edu/ciattarelli.