Operating Engineers endorse Ciattarelli for Governor

The International Union of Operating Engineers Local 825 has endorsed Jack Ciattarelli for governor of New Jersey, giving the Republican nominee the support of one of the state’s most politically potent labor unions.

The 8,000-member union can provide Ciattarelli with boots on the ground during his campaign, and the potential to spend a significant amount of money through independent expenditures to help him win.

“New Jersey is at a crossroads. We face an energy crisis, an affordability crisis, and a crisis of common sense. The solutions are basic but may not be politically popular,” said the union’s business manager, Greg Lalevee.  “We need a Governor who will tackle our challenges and not cave to the fringe political voices. Jack Ciattarelli understands New Jersey and what needs to be done to fix our great state.”

Four years ago, Local 825 endorsed Democrat Phil Murphy for re-election against Ciattarelli, who came within three percentage points of winning.

Lalevee cited Ciattarelli’s willingness to create jobs by supporting projects involving natural gas and panned the Democratic nominee, Mikie Sherrill, for “banking on solar” as a solution to the state’s energy needs.

“The notion that we can do this without natural gas is insane,” Lalevee told the New Jersey Globe. “We can’t get there just on solar.  That’s impossible.”

The union leader was especially critical of environmental groups, including the Sierra Club, which supports Sherrill.

“They kick, scream, lie, cry, stomp their feet, hold their breath, and the politicians wilt as they don’t offer solutions,” Lalevee said.

Ciattarelli, a former assemblyman from Somerset County, has promised to replace current members and top Board of Public Utilities staff, something Lalevee suggested he likes.

“New Jersey has the most mileage of replaceable pipe in the U.S., and the BPU asks utility companies to scale them down,” Lalevee said.  “We need a robust economy.”

Lalevee hinted that there are more building trades endorsements on Ciattarelli’s horizon.

“There are powerful statistics about why building trades should go this way,” Lalevee stated.

He said that Ciattarelli’s position on immigration will be popular with blue-collar union members, and noted that President Donald Trump, who endorsed Ciattarelli, last week directed federal agencies to honor union project labor agreements.

Lalevee was elected to a sixth three-year term as the Local 825 business manager.