CAPE MAY – GOP candidate for governor Jack Ciattarelli stopped in the city on Tuesday, greeting supporters at the VFW post and raising funds for his campaign at events at two of the city’s landmark hotels.
Ciattarelli, 63, from Somerset County, faces Democrat Mikie Sherrill in the governor’s office election in November. He visited Cape May VFW Post 386 on July 29 before heading to fundraising events at Congress Hall and the Virginia Hotel.
“It’s great to be with you,” the candidate told a supportive VFW crowd. “If only the rest of New Jersey was as red as Cape May County this would be easy.”
The county deserves more attention and funding from the state, he said.
Ciattarelli told the veterans there were essentially 99 days until the election. He said the best thing they could do to help his campaign was to tell their friends to get out and vote.
He repeated a theme he believes resonates with the residents of the county – “No wind farms.”
The Republican-controlled county government came out against the Orsted corporation’s plans to build wind farms off the New Jersey coast, something they said would result in about a 15% reduction in tourism.
Ciattarelli said he understands how important tourism is to the county economy. He said New Jersey as a whole is a donor state to the U.S. economy, and that it deserves to have more federal funding returned for essential projects.
As a projected boon to the Cape May County economy and for the safety and welfare of all citizens, Ciattarelli said the Route 55 extension, talked about for decades, is one if the top five transportation projects in the state right now.
Although much talked about, extending Route 55 has been stalled due to concerns over environmentally sensitive areas.
CapeGOP Chairman Michael Donohue welcomed Ciattarelli.
“Jack is no stranger to Cape May County,” he said. “He understands that small, family-owned businesses are the backbone of our economy, and that Trenton has been advancing politics harmful to small businesses for years.”
He said Ciattarelli would work to reduce business taxes and regulations to jumpstart the county’s economic engine. The county generated $8.1 billion in direct spending through tourism in 2024.
Donohue said the candidate supports law enforcement, including cooperation with federal immigration efforts. He wants to empower parents in education and protect girls and women’s sports.
“Cape May County will turn out big for Jack in November,” Donohue predicted.
Contact the reporter, Christopher South, at csouth@cmcherald.com or call 609-886-8600, ext. 128.