Murphy stays clear of Carteret feud

Gov. Phil Murphy, in Carteret this morning to announce the first round of new Preschool Education Expansion Aid (PEEA) of $20.6 million to 31 eligible public school districts, sidestepped comment on the six-year war between Carteret Mayor Dan Reiman and the local Board of Education.

Asked if the governor’s decision to make his announcement from the Columbus School in Carteret might be interpreted as a sign that he was siding with the school board over Reiman, a Democrat who is up for re-election this year, Murphy said, “No.  Absolutely not.”

“We should make sure I say that categorically,” Murphy said.  “We call balls and strikes.  Carteret went through a very rigorous process to receive this funding.  They deserved it.  No politics today.”

Murphy was accompanied today by Commissioner of Education Lamont Repollet, who was once the principal of Carteret High School.

Superintendent of Schools Rosa Diaz praised Murphy for his focus on towns like Carteret.

“For many, many years, our little town has felt ignored by the state level leadership,” Diaz said.

In an interview later, Diaz clarified her statement to say she was referring to former Gov. Chris Christie and not legislative leaders.  She said that Assembly Speaker Craig Coughlin, who represents Carteret in the 19th district, was a strong ally of her school system.

While Murphy said “no politics today,” Rep. Frank Pallone, Jr. (D-Long Branch) went in a different direction during questions about funding public school education.

“What we really need is a change in Washington,” said Pallone, who represents Carteret in Congress. “We have a major infrastructure bill that gives money to mass transit.  We have a major initiative on education that gives funding to community colleges and for pre-schools.  This is what President Obama always talked about and the Democratic majority.

Pallone told Murphy that that changes in Washington could help him in New Jersey.

“That would be nice, because right now it’s largely headwinds,” Murphy said.