2017 New Jersey Gubernatorial race: debates and news coverage

OnTheIssues.org excerpts:  (click on issues for details)

Abortion     Kim Guadagno: Supports women's healthcare; pro-choice.

Budget & Economy     Jack Ciattarelli: 5% to 10% reduction in the state government workforce.

Civil Rights     Kim Guadagno: Won't criticize Republican with Confederate flag.     Kim Guadagno: Comfortable with LGBT but won't criticize ban.

Corporations     Kim Guadagno: Work with businesses to cut state regulations in half.     Jack Ciattarelli: 10-year phase out of the corporate business tax.

Drugs     Phil Murphy: Focus on racial justice with marijuana legalization.     Kim Guadagno: Decriminalization, not legalization.     Joe Rullo: Make it a living hell for heroin dealers in NJ.     Jim McGreevey: Offer behavioral drug treatment to addicted inmates.     Jim McGreevey: Transition addicted inmates to outpatient drug treatment.     Steve Fulop: Transition addicted inmates to outpatient drug treatment.     Ray Lesniak: Ultimately we'll get legalization but wait for other states.     Ray Lesniak: Study legalization of recreational cannabis in other states.     Steve Fulop: Wait for other states to see pro's and con's of legalization.     Steve Fulop: Study legalization of recreational cannabis in other states.

Education     Kim Guadagno: Merit pay for teachers; school choice for parents.     Jack Ciattarelli: Limit aid to overfunded school districts.     Joe Rullo: Stop saddling parents and students with Common Core.     Joe Rullo: Merge roles of school superintendents and administrators.     Phil Murphy: Focus on STEM to make Silicon Valley in New Jersey.     Phil Murphy: Reignite NJ science hotbed by focusing on STEM sector.

Energy & Oil     Kim Guadagno: Favor wind turbines on Jersey coast.     Joe Rullo: Repeal the 23-cent gas tax.     Phil Murphy: Raise gas tax to renew Transportation Trust Fund.     Phil Murphy: It stinks, but raise the gas tax to fund transportation.     Steve Fulop: Gas tax is essentially a user fee for motorists.     Steve Fulop: Variable rate gas tax with automatic inflation increase.

Environment     Phil Murphy: Commit to protecting shores with long-term enviro plan.     Phil Murphy: Long-term planning via Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative.     Chris Christie: Develop Liberty State Park to generate more revenue.     Stephen Sweeney: Stall development of Liberty State Park until Christie gone.     Steve Fulop: Stall development of Liberty State Park until Christie gone.     Ray Lesniak: Ban baiting of deer and bear during hunting.

Families & Children     Steve Fulop: Require companies to grant paid sick leave.

Foreign Policy     Phil Murphy: Former U.S. ambassador to Germany, appointed by Obama.

Government Reform     Phil Murphy: I don't owe the political insiders anything.

Gun Control     Joe Rullo: Goal is concealed carry without justifiable need.     Ray Lesniak: Buy police weapons from socially responsible gun sellers.     Steve Fulop: Reward "socially responsible" gun distributors.

Health Care     Jack Ciattarelli: Discontinue ObamaCare Cadillac health insurance plans.     Steve Fulop: Partner with public health groups to fight urban disparities.     Steve Fulop: Combat health disparities that plague cities.

Homeland Security     Kim Guadagno: Head of the Military Growth Task Force.     Joe Rullo: Eliminate state income taxes on all veterans' pensions.     Steve Fulop: Denounced theory that Jersey City Muslims cheered 9/11.

Immigration     Kim Guadagno: Against sanctuary state.     Joe Rullo: Eliminate sanctuary cities across NJ.     Steve Fulop: More outreach to involve immigrants in civic life.

Jobs     Kim Guadagno: Against minimum wage hike.     Steve Fulop: Jersey City first to raise the minimum wage to $15.

Social Security     Jack Ciattarelli: Limit retirement pensions for public retirees.

Tax Reform     Kim Guadagno: High state property taxes drive businesses to other states.     Joe Rullo: Reduce property taxes; repeal gas tax; veto new taxes.     Steve Fulop: No municipal tax increase for third year in a row.     Steve Fulop: We make government work well with no municipal tax increase.

Technology     Phil Murphy: Share congestion pricing revenue between NYC and NJ.     Steve Fulop: Congestion pricing leads to "race to zero" for NYC vs. NJ.     Kim Guadagno: Infrastructure plan without gas tax or toll increases.

Welfare & Poverty     Chris Christie: Food stamps recipients must be in job training programs.     Ray Lesniak: Private donations for job training for SNAP recipients.

Click for quotations from other sources by: Chris Christie New Jersey N.J. Governor; Republican Presidential candidate Jack Ciattarelli New Jersey Republican Jim McGreevey Former Democratic Governor (2002-2004) Joe Rullo New Jersey Republican Kim Guadagno New Jersey Republican candidate for Governor Phil Murphy New Jersey Democratic 2017 Gubernatorial nominee Ray Lesniak New Jersey Democratic 2017 Gubernatorial candidate Stephen Sweeney Steve Fulop New Jersey Democratic 2017 Gubernatorial candidate