Ciattarelli says he’ll screen for NJEA endorsement if it’s livestreamed. The union says no

Jack Ciattarelli has agreed to participate in a gubernatorial candidate screening with the New Jersey Education Association, but with something he called “one important caveat.”

“I propose that we livestream the screening interview so that every NJEA member employed full or part-time in a professional education capacity in a New Jersey public school, college, university, institution, or agency is invited to attend, as well as any retired members,” Ciattarelli said in an email obtained by the New Jersey Globe.

That’s a no from the state’s largest public employee union.

“It’s the same process for every candidate,” said Steve Baker, a spokesman for the NJEA.  “The candidates don’t get to dictate the terms, but we do offer a fair process to every candidate.”

Few expect the NJEA to bail on Murphy, whom they supported in 2017 and endorsed for renomination to a second term last October.  Their political action committee has already sent millions to a non-profit group formed to push the governor’s political agenda.

Alfred Beaver, the NJEA director of government relations, invited Ciattarelli on the morning after his victory in the Republican gubernatorial primary, to participate in a one-hour screening next Tuesday with an 11-member screening committee.  Ciattarelli was given a deadline of noon today to respond to the invitation and return a candidate questionnaire.

The panel includes the NJEA president-elect, Sean Spiller, a close Murphy ally and the mayor of Montclair.

“If you do not confirm your participation as invited, we will take that as you are declining the invitation,” Beaver said in an email to the GOP nominee.

That brought a quick response from Ciattarelli’s campaign manager, Eric Arpert.

“Is it your position that the NJEA will not so much as acknowledge the candidate’s request for a public and transparent process for all of your members to observe?” Arpert asked.

Ciattarelli’s response isn’t surprising – it’s the same one he gave in April, after the NJEA invited him to screen during the primary, six months after the Murphy endorsement.  The teachers’ union did not endorse anyone in the race for the Republican nomination.

But he still wants to address educational issues directly to public school teachers.

“It is my strong belief that a fully transparent and open process would allow your membership and New Jersey taxpayers to hear a substantive discussion about how $9 billion in state taxpayer money is spent each year,” Ciattarelli said.  “That would include issues like school funding, education choice and charter schools, the status of school re-openings and curriculum decisions, as well as the need for public pension and benefit reform.”

Citing data from the New Jersey Department of Education, Ciattarelli noted that the “typical New Jersey school district spends roughly $16,000 a year to educate each public-school student, and that cost rises to about $22,000 when you factor in items like busing, tuition for special education students, facilities, equipment, and pension and benefits payments.”

“Given the impact this spending has on our students, teachers, and taxpayers, I believe the more people we can inform on these important issues, the better,” the former Somerset County assemblyman said.

Jerrel Harvey, a spokesman for the Murphy campaign, said that the governor “looks forward to participating in the NJEA’s endorsement screening process.”

“This is more of the same from Assemblyman Ciattarelli, who’s returning to the Christie playbook of bullying educators and vilifying public labor unions to promote his agenda to slash benefits for middle class families,” Harvey said.

In 2009, then-Republican gubernatorial candidate Chris Christie declined to meet with the NJEA in advance of their endorsement.

“I would enjoy the opportunity to meet with your membership to engage in a frank dialogue about the future of our public education system. Because I respect your members’ contributions to our public education system, I want to speak honestly and openly with you to ensure you know exactly where I stand and for what I believe.” Christie said in a letter to the NJEA. “I feel that doing so under the specter of an endorsement is difficult, however; that is why I will not be seeking the endorsement of your organization.”