Republican gubernatorial nominee Jack Ciattarelli and Hudson County Sheriff Frank Schillari backed the county GOP slate at a packed house at Rumba Cubana in Jersey City last night.
By John Heinis/Hudson County View
“Who says there’s no Republicans in Hudson County?” Ciattarelli said to an enthusiastic crowd in Hamilton Park, one bluest parts of Hudson County.
“I don’t know, yesterday we were in North Bergen for the Hispanic Day Parade and we saw an awful lot of Republicans and we also saw a lot of Democrats who came out, who hold elected office, who endorsed my candidacy for governor.”
On Sunday at Cuomo’s & Son’s Deli in North Bergen, Ciattarelli secured the support of North Bergen Public Safety Commissioner Allen Pascual, West New York Commissioner Marcos Arroyo, and former West New York Mayor Sal Vega, ex-Commissioner Alberto Rodriguez.
The endorsement clearly caught the attention of Hudson County Democratic Organization (HCDO) Chair Craig Guy, who yesterday said U.S. Rep. Mikie Sherrill (D-11) has wide support in the county and the recent Ciattarelli endorsements are hollow.
” … Her opponent was endorsed by the same Hudson County DINOs whose greatest hits include the failed candidacy of Frank Schillari. In fact, I’m not even sure if all of those people even still identify as ‘Democrats,’ or even ‘Hudson County residents,'” he said in a statement.
“Just like MAGA Frank Schillari’s endorsement, these latest ones come with no money, no ground game, and no credibility.”
Similarly, there were about two dozen protesters outside the venue with signs that read things such as “Stop MAGA Healthcare Cuts” and “Jack Defends Trump Defunds Healthcare.”
Nonetheless, Hudson County Republicans and the Ciattarelli campaign were clearly energized and are seem to be looking forward to a big win on November 4th, which would be the first Republican governor to get elected in New Jersey since 2013.
“You know who I feel really bad for? Those people protesting outside, you know why? Because in 28 days we’re gonna win, that’s why,” Ciattarelli said to cheers and applause.
“Nobody wants four more years of [Gov.] Phil Murphy policies, Mikie Sherrill is Murphy 2.0: We’re not gonna let that happen, we’re gonna win. Ya know, she’s got the same problem Corzine and Murphy had: They brought Jon Corzine here from Illinois, didn’t work out so well. They brought Phil Murphy here from Massachusetts, that hasn’t worked out so well, sheriff. Mikie Sherrill’s not from New Jersey. I’ve got a really simple idea: How ’bout we elect a Jersey guy!”
Polling has the heavily anticipated contest, just one of two gubernatorial races in the entire country this year, in the single digits, with Ciattarelli within the margin of error in recent polls, though Sherrill is still favored at the moment.
A former state assemblyman, a Raritan councilman, and Somerset County freeholder is hoping his third run for governor is the charm after losing to Murphy by about three points in 2021.
He reiterated his vision for the Garden State during the rally as well: Vowing to eliminate sanctuary cities, state workers will be working at their offices in person, appointing an attorney general “that supports both police and parents.”
Ciattarelli said his attorney general would get rid of cashless bail and also eliminated a policy that discourages school staff from informing parents when a student identifies as transgender.
At the event, he also came out in support of Republican nominee for sheriff, Elvis Alvarez, as well as Republican Assembly nominees Anthony Acosta and Neil Schulman (LD-31), Kaushal Patel and Stephen Bishop (LD-32), as well as Anthony Valdes and Cindy DePice (LD-33).
Schillari, who lost a re-election bid in June and switched to the Republican party about six weeks later, as HCV first reported, also said he backed the Hudson County GOP slate.
“As the longest serving sheriff in Hudson County history, I’m gonna ask all of the 31,000-plus people that voted for me on June 10th to come out and help me support the next governor, and his whole team, Jack Ciattarelli,” he declared.
“I have a lot of friends in this room, a lot in law enforcement, Jack and his team: You heard his agenda, it’s amazing. And he’s gonna take the handcuffs off the police. He’s gonna support the police, law enforcement, and we’re gonna have a great state again.”
Other dignitaries in attendance included Hudson County GOP Chair Jose Arango, Hudson County GOP Vice Chairs Joe Branco and Josh Sotomayor Einstein, Hoboken GOP Chair Pavel Sokolov, Hudson County GOP Field Director Kenny Gonzalez, North Bergen Commissioner Anthony Vainieri, North Bergen Police Chief Robert Farley, Jersey City Board of Education Trustee Natalia Ioffe, Jersey City Chief Municipal Prosecutor Jake Hudnut, and Jersey City Office of Emergency Management & Homeland Security Director W. Greg Kierce.
Hudnut, who shared the stage with Ciattarelli and received a shoutout, and Kierce are both appointees of Mayor Steven Fulop, who unsuccessfully ran for governor in the June Democratic primary and is now set for a big job in New York City next year.
“I’m interested in hearing from any campaign about its plans to give police and local prosecutors the tools and resources they need to reduce disorder and keep our streets safe,” Hudnut told HCV.
Can someone please tell Schillari it’s time to call it quits already? He’s finished just like his right hand man, Conti, who’s suddenly trying to change his tune. Too late, Conti… you’re done!