Philadelphia Inquirer: Mikie Sherrill for New Jersey governor | Endorsement

U.S. Rep. Mikie Sherrill is best poised to take on the Garden State's challenges, with actionable plans to produce more energy, protect ratepayers, and build more housing.

• The Garden State needs a governor who is willing to take on long-term structural problems instead of pandering to traditional parochial attitudes. The best choice for voters in the New Jersey governor’s race is U.S. Rep. Mikie Sherrill.
• Sherill has dedicated her life to public service. After attending the U.S. Naval Academy in Annapolis, Md., she became a naval aviator, including nine years of active-duty service. Sherrill also worked in the U.S. Attorney’s Office as a federal prosecutor.
• Since her election in 2018, Sherrill has represented New Jersey’s 11th Congressional District, breaking more than 30 years of Republican domination in the seat. Throughout her career, Sherrill has demonstrated a welcome willingness to take on big challenges.
• Sherrill is best poised to offer solutions, with actionable plans to produce more energy, protect ratepayers, and build more housing — particularly in cities that are well below their peak population levels and along transit corridors.
• The Republican nominee, Jack Ciattarelli, is on his third attempt to take the job. His campaign is one of slogans, not ideas.
• Ciattarelli is also running on ideas that would make New Jersey’s problems worse, not better.
• He’s pledged to reduce state spending by 30% without noting where he’d make changes. New Jersey’s most recent budget spends over $22 billion on education from prekindergarten to 12th grade, and offers another $12 billion in aid to underfunded districts, representing more than half of all spending. This means Ciattarelli’s cuts would almost certainly require difficult choices for school districts across the Garden State. Sherrill, for her part, wants to expand education by investing in pre-K and regional magnet schools.
• Given that New Jersey is a net importer of electric power, prices will continue to rise unless new sources are added to the grid. While both Sherrill and Ciattarelli agree on expanding the use of nuclear sources, the latter’s opposition to green energy projects will leave ratepayers hobbled in the fight to lower costs.
• The Ciattarelli campaign and the Trump administration also acted improperly in releasing Sherrill’s military personnel file, which was initially unredacted, allowing access to Sherrill’s home address, Social Security number, and other sensitive information that should not have been shared.
• Fortunately for voters, on the much more important issues at stake, there is a clear difference between the candidates. From housing to transportation, education to energy, Mikie Sherrill is the best choice for voters in the New Jersey governor’s race.