Former New Jersey Republican Governor Chris Christie didn’t like wearing facemasks during the COVID-19 pandemic. That is until he became infected with the virus after spending time without masks around former President Donald J. Trump and his advisors.
After spending a week in the hospital, Christie came out a born-again mask wearer, urging New Jerseyans to not follow his lead.
Now, the man running for Governor against Phil Murphy is ignoring his pal Chris’s advice and Murphy’s campaign team is taking shots. When it came time for the photo-ops on his Facebook page, Ciattarelli put the mask on. When it came time to talk to influential playmakers in Lakewood, it was masks off.
In question is a photo published in the Lakewood Scoop. Ciattarelli was led around the city by Frank Holman GOP inside political power players Yankel Wenger and Israel Bernstein. In recent years the two have been the welcoming party for political candidates seeking to meet with influential residents, business owners, and playmakers in Lakewood.
Ciattarelli could face an uphill battle in Ocean County’s Republican stronghold for being an avid-never Trumper
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Phil Murphy’s campaign manager took notice even though Ciattarelli did not share those photos with his fans.
“During a campaign stop in Lakewood on Monday, Republican gubernatorial candidate Assemblyman Jack Ciattarelli refused to wear a mask while greeting employees at a bakery, joining the ranks of a dangerous, anti-science movement and putting public health at risk for a partisan photo-op,” said Jerrell Harvey Murphy’s campaign manager.
“Assemblyman Ciattarelli continues to make it clear that bolstering his own campaign is worth more to him than science and good decision-making,” said Murphy for Governor Spokesman Jerrel Harvey. “The Assemblyman plays by his own set of rules, and the personal responsibility demonstrated by New Jerseyans to save lives doesn’t apply to him. This cavalier approach to COVID-19 not only undermines public health but is flat out dangerous.”