NEWARK – In an intensifying political atmosphere in the New Jersey contest for Governor, LG Sheila Oliver this morning defended the Murphy administration from an attack by challenger Jack Ciattarelli on the subject of Tropical Storm Ida.

The Republican nominee, Ciattarelli said Governor Phil Murphy reacted inadequately in the face of Ida, which pummeled the state earlier this month and killed 29 New Jerseyans.

“I am proud of our response, the response is not over, and I know Ciattarelli would not have been able to deliver as we did,” Oliver told InsiderNJ.

Her full remarks are below:

Oliver was in Newark today as a special guest of Mayor Ras Baraka and County Executive Joe DiVincenzo to assist in the unveiling of a statue dedicated to the late Kenneth Gibson.