Ex-Assembly Speaker endorses Ciattarelli

Former Assembly Speaker Jack Collins is supporting Jack Ciattarelli for the Republican nomination for governor.

“Jack Ciattarelli understands the problems facing New Jersey residents because he’s one of us – a regular, down to Earth, Jersey guy who has seen firsthand how hard it is to raise a family and start a business in this state,” Collins said.  “Jack gets it, and he’s genuinely concerned about fixing the problems we all face.”

Collins served in the Assembly from 1986 to 2002 and was Speaker from 1996 to 2002; he and Gary Stuhltrager flipped two Assembly seats in the 3rd legislative districts in 1985.

He is one of four living former Republican Assembly Speakers, along with Barry Parker (1971), Thomas Kean (1972-74), and Chuck Hardwick (1986-90).  Collins is the only one who never ran for governor, although he came close to doing so in 2001.

Parker, 92, later served as minority leader of the State Senate; he’s a retired name partner at Parker McCay.  Kean, 89, was elected governor in 1981 after beating Parker and others in the GOP primary.   The 83-year-old Harwick ran for governor in 1989 when Kean was term-limited.

Collins works for Princeton Public Affairs Group, the Trenton lobbying firm run by Ciattarelli’s two top advisors, Dale Florio and Al Gaburro.

“Here in South Jersey, we know that Jack will always have our backs. He’ll protect the needs of our farmers, preserve our cherished open space, and help us build an economy that sees wages rise and costs fall,” Collins stated.  “Put simply: Jack Ciattarelli is the man for the job.”