This Tuesday, I will be voting for Assemblyman Jack Ciattarelli for governor of New Jersey. I believe that he is the best candidate for the position. I urge you to vote for him as well.
Of the candidates on the ballot, Mr. Ciattarelli is the only candidate that fully understands the day-to-day worries and concerns of New Jersey residents that work, pay taxes, raise a family and send their children to school, while at the same have to balance a household budget and plan for retirement.
Mr. Ciattarelli has campaigned to be understanding of the fiscal strain that all of us have been under for quite some time. He understands that rising expenses, taxes and government regulation makes life much more difficult for us, our families and our neighbors.
Governor Phil Murphy is a good person. He is an honorable man. He means well.
However, as an incumbent governor, this election is also a referendum on his past term in office.
Over the past three plus years, the tax burden in New Jersey has increased, and the state government has increased spending (and borrowed money) that will cause our taxes to increase in years to come and will make our area less affordable to live in.
This is problematic on many fronts. Many in our community who have been blessed with wealth and help fund our institutions that educate our children, feed the needy and take care of the sick are now in a position where they are considering leaving our area because taxes have been raised to such a level where they have more of an incentive to relocate.
Second, many in our community now have a higher financial burden because of the higher taxes and fees and they are not happy with the increases as well.
However, most importantly, the COVID-19 pandemic has shown that the state government failed even the neediest.
How many people remember when so many people in our area, our friends, family members, were beside themselves attempting to apply for unemployment benefits and had nowhere to turn.
The state government was AWOL. Essentially, the state government was so ill-equipped to deal with the problem, instead of facing it head on, they pretended that it did not exist. Essentially they just “didn’t pick up the phone” when anyone called. So many people had no funds or money to pay for their food, and the government was nowhere to be found.
Government offices were not opened in person for more than a year. The MVA had a complete breakdown and people had to wait for hours or days on a line to receive essential services.
Phil Murphy is the executive of the government of New Jersey. To this day no responsibility has ever been claimed for these failures.
It doesn’t matter if you are a person of means, or someone reliant on the government for assistance. Governor Murphy’s administration was not there for you when it counted. I do not believe he should be rewarded for another four-year term.
I will be voting for Jack Ciattarelli, and I hope you do as well.
On the local level in Bergenfield I ask that everyone vote for Fred Sahlberg for municipal council. He is a personal friend of mine, a retired police officer who cares deeply about Bergenfield, and does not have a mean bone in his body. He attends virtually every single council meeting and his intentions are pure. Even if he disagrees with you, he will explain why it is so respectfully, and without any ill will. I tell my friends that if I went to war, I would want Fred in the foxhole with me, as he is caring, loyal and passionate. He feels that way about Bergenfield taxpayers, so I strongly urge Bergenfield voters to vote for him. He is running on the Republican ticket for municipal council. Please vote for him.
Ira Treuhaft
Teaneck
