Republican Ciattarelli seeks 16th District state Assembly seat
By Charles Kim, Packet Publications
GOP challenger wants to lead district
Jack Ciattarelli
Ciattarelli
– 8CIATTARELLI-
Charles W. KimThe Packet Group
Hillsborough resident Jack Ciattarelli wants to claim one of two open state Assembly seats in the newly configured 16th Legislative District for the Republicans.
"We need leadership (in Trenton)," Mr. Ciattarelli said. "We need people to step up and not live in the obscurity of the institution."
Mr. Ciattarelli graduated from Seton Hall University in South Orange with a bachelor’s degree in accounting and a master’s in finance.
Since 1995, he has run two different publishing firms and has served as a member of the Somerset County Board of Chosen Freeholders.
Mr. Ciattarelli said he also is in the race because he wants to be a part of the discussion on what the size of government should be at the state level.
"This is a fascinating time," Mr. Ciattarelli said. "I want to take part in that debate."
Mr. Ciattarelli said the private sector has learned to run more efficiently than the public sector, and government has to learn how to do more with less.
"You don’t see that in the public sector," Mr. Ciattarelli said.
He said he also wants to work on revitalizing the state’s cities to help ease the property tax burden by having more revenue come in from ratables in the city.
"Why would we spend money to have more people go into New York City (to commute)?" Mr. Ciattarelli said. "They go in and buy their breakfast. They buy their lunch. If they work late, they buy dinner (in the city)."
Mr. Ciattarelli believes by having cities earn more, the state could send less money to them for urban districts.
"Suburbs have ratables," Mr. Ciattarelli said. "The cities do not."
Mr. Ciattarelli also said he believes the recent pension and benefit reforms for public employees were fair and would help to keep the system solvent.
"The vote (in the legislature) should have been 120-0," Mr. Ciattarelli said. "I have been through the plan, and it is fair."
Mr. Ciattarelli said everyone in Trenton is to blame for the pension and health funds not being fully funded and also those benefits being paid out for many more years than in the past.
He also said the state might have to adjust the retirement age for some jobs, like police officers, who retire after 25 years on the job, possibly as early as age 50.
"I think it should be like Social Security," Mr. Ciattarelli said. "Partial benefits at 62, some benefits at age 65 and full benefits at 67."
Regarding charter schools, Mr. Ciattarelli said he supports having the schools in some areas, but also believes they should be approved by voters before coming into a district.
"I believe that where there is consensus that a school is failing, there has to be choices," Mr. Ciattarelli said. "In places (like Hillsborough), I would rather focus our energies on making that better instead of having charter schools."
Mr. Ciattarelli said he has a plan to fight the property tax crisis, and people know where they stand with him.
"I tell it like it is, and I am a self-funded candidate," Mr. Ciattarelli said.