EDITOR'S NOTE: Here are more periodic musings on the race for governor.

Some school districts are already open; others will open for the 2025-26 school year after Labor Day.

For the last few years, parents received a break - such as it was - on school supplies for their children. From 2022 through 2024, there was a "sales tax holiday" on most school supplies. No need to pay sales tax when buying goods for the new school year.

No more.

The state Legislature did away with the break a few months ago.

School may just be starting, but the campaign for governor is already running hot.

Not surprisingly, the no school tax holiday has drawn the attention of both Jack Ciattarelli and Mikie Sherrill.

Here's Ciattarelli's take:

"Murphy & the Democrats proved once again they’re out of touch with NJ parents and schools. Instead of sparing families a few bucks at back-to-school time, they repealed the tax holiday to bankroll their bloated agenda. With sky-high taxes, utility bills, and insurance costs, one would think giving NJ families a break would be obvious. But not for Mikie Sherrill - she’s more of the same failed politics. Let's make a change this November."

That is what you would expect from the Republican challenger.

Sherrill's response was two-fold.

First, she said she backs the "sales tax holiday" on school supplies and pointed to her announced  "Affordability Agenda" to prove it. She says she wants to bring it back.

The Sherrill campaign also discovered a social media post Ciattarelli made back in 2022. That's when he called the idea a "gimmick."

That was then, now is now.

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In every campaign, there are debates about debates.

Given the fact both candidates have qualified for public financing, two debates have been scheduled by the state Election Law Enforcement Commission. They will be held on Sept. 21 and Oct. 8. There also will be a lieutenant governor's debate. (A TV ratings bonanza? Probably not).

In addition to the two debates scheduled by ELEC, the Ciattarelli campaign wants more. His website presents many comments asking when Sherrill will debate.

Tradition suggests debates are more important to those trailing in the polls, which describes Ciattarelli at the moment. You can also figure that Ciattarelli, who has served in just about all levels of New Jersey government, is better equipped than his opponent to discuss the intricacies of state government.

Broadly speaking, debates allow interested voters to see the candidates in un-scripted settings, which is good. The more the better.

In these polarized times, however, how many times a candidate debates does not mean all that much.

Hard to see any candidate losing votes from his, or her, base for not debating enough.

 * * * 

As Labor Day weekend is upon us, Ciattarelli appears to have the most active campaign schedule planned - at least as of around noon on Thursday.

He plans a stop in Toms River on Saturday, two in Lake Hopatcong on Sunday and a full day of stops along the Shore on Monday beginning in Seaside Heights.

Sherrill is in South Jersey today, visiting businesses in Clarksboro and Haddonfield.

She also has "meet and greets" scheduled for Sunday in Point Pleasant and Toms River.