Ciattarelli Again Takes Extreme Position, Dishonestly Attacks Gov. Murphy on Mask Mandate in Schools

GOP Candidate Once Again Siding with Anti-Vax, Anti-Mask, Anti-Science Extremists, Willing to Hurt the Economy and Education Just to Play Extreme Politics

TRENTON, NJ — After Governor Phil Murphy made the responsible decision to mandate that students in K-12 schools wear masks in class this fall, Republican gubernatorial candidate Assemblyman Jack Ciattarelli predictably attacked the Governor and opposed this commonsense public health measure. Assemblyman Ciattarelli is once again siding with the anti-science, anti-vaccine, anti-mask extremists that he has worked hard to court since day one of his campaign. In the process, Ciattarelli is undermining public health guidance designed to keep kids safe and learning in the classroom and parents able to go to work.

“Of course Jack Ciattarelli is against masks in schools — he’s also against vaccines in schools, and seemingly against the state taking any measure whatsoever to keep children safe in the face of rising numbers of COVID-19 cases driven primarily by the very same anti-vaccine, anti-science movement that he so desperately wants support from,” said NJDSC Spokesman Phil Swibinski. “The fact is that Governor Murphy’s decision is about keeping kids safe and, in the process, making sure schools stay open and parents are able to go to work. If Assemblyman Ciattarelli wants to emulate anti-science Republicans like Ron DeSantis he’s welcome to do so, but New Jerseyans will stick with a Governor like Phil Murphy who will make the hard choices to keep us safe. Ciattarelli’s extreme position is bad for New Jersey’s health, our economy and our schools.”