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The annual New Jersey Business & Industry Association (NJBIA) Public Policy Forum Dec. 4 featured robust discussion about the state’s business landscape, including from several 2025 gubernatorial candidates.

“It is absolutely my pleasure to welcome you to our annual Public Policy Forum,” said NJBIA President and CEO Michele Siekerka at the outset. “This is going to be a great day. I know that I’ve been looking forward to this – I’m really excited about the conversations we are going to have today. I think they’re going to be provocative; I think we might feel a little bit of trepidation, stimulation, consternation, a little bit of all of the above.”

She stressed the critical time we are in.

“We’re heading into what promises to be a very pivotal year coming up,” said Siekerka, who also referenced the results of the recently released NJBIA Annual Outlook Survey during her opening remarks. “On the heels of the national election now behind us – but with a big governor’s election next year. We know how exciting years of governor elections in New Jersey can be.

“Today, we’re going to take a deeper dive in the issues that really lie ahead of us.”

The New Jersey’s governor race is in full swing, with a slew of declared candidates on both sides of the aisle running to succeed term-limited Gov. Phil Murphy.

Held in Woodbridge, the NJBIA event brought together the state’s top policy leaders; business, academic and political experts; as well as candidates.

On the dais

Gubernatorial hopefuls Jack Ciattarelli, Steven Fulop, Bill Spadea, Sean Spiller and Steve Sweeney participated in a panel discussion moderated by Rick Thigpen, senior vice president, Corporate Citizenship, PSEG.

During the hour-plus panel discussion, the candidates shared their visions on several topics, such as how to best engage and support the business community, property taxes, spending, school funding, innovation, affordable housing, corporate governance and tax rates, talent and workforce development, pensions, entrepreneurship and more.

While there were many points of disagreements and ideological differences among the candidates — instances of common ground also arose.

NJBIA’s Public Policy Forum going on live now, featuring five NJ gubernatorial candidates for 2025 – great discussion from @Jack4NJ @StevenFulop @BillSpadea @spillerfornj and @SteveSweeney_NJ pic.twitter.com/OQHUBVvZJ6

— NJBIA (@NJBIA) December 4, 2024

After a series of round-robin topics and questions from the crowd, each candidate was provided an opportunity to make closing remarks on why they should be the next governor of the Garden State:

Jack Ciattarelli (R)

“The one thing I feel strongest about as governor is making New Jersey a better place to do business,” said Ciattarelli, touting he and his family’s successful business history in the state. “Let me speak to something else that I think is critically important to the business community – we need a hands-on CEO governor in this state. It’s a $57 billion enterprise with 65,000 employees and 9.3 million customers. And you need a governor who’s going to appoint a cabinet – that is going to run that ship each and every day, so it works on behalf of the businesses and citizens of the state. And right now, we don’t have that.”

Steven Fulop (D)

“If there’s one thing that I would hope you take away regarding me is that we’re running a different type of campaign – change the system of government, create more accountability. And then ultimately, be very detailed on policy and move things forward in concrete way, similar to what we did in Jersey City by outlining in detail what we will be able to do,” said Fulop. “Not every municipality is Jersey City – but the same playbook as it relates to the thought-process on detailed policy is what it’s important here.”

Bill Spadea (R)

“As the only non-government, non-political outside entrepreneur, I can tell you that our state is going to be a lot better off when we have leaders that are actually innovators,” said Spadea. “That come from the private sector and understand what it’s like to manage a P&L, manage millions of dollars for corporations – actually start a business and sign the front of the paycheck, instead of just the back of the paycheck. We’re going to need that.”

Sean Spiller (D)

“It’s time to do something different. We can’t constantly elect the same thing and expect some different outcome. And I think that finally having an educator who could be the next governor is something that would bring great benefit to the state,” said Spiller. “And would allow us to interact in ways that can serve our communities. Certainly, with those additional experiences as a mayor, councilperson, as a president of an organization, I think all bring those skills that are going to very important as we face shrinking budgets, challenges at the federal levels, and so many other things that we don’t even know what will be coming our way.”

Steve Sweeney (D)

“I know many of you in the room – you know me. I’ve got a history. I have a voting history,” said Sweeney, pointing to issues like minimum wage and paid family leave. “I’m proud of those things. I’m also proud that we weren’t afraid to take on tough issues. And sometimes, the State Police had to escort me through the halls of Trenton because I was willing to take on the fight because it was worth fighting for. The people of New Jersey are absolutely worth fighting for. This state’s worth fighting for.”

Something to celebrate

During the event, NJBIA recognized a number of leaders with awards including:

Candy Straight Woman Trailblazer Award

• Jeannine LaRue, public policy strategist

Paul L. Troast Award

• Peter Connolly, CEO, New Jersey Manufacturing Extension Program (NJMEP)
• John Davies, vice president, Bayshore Recycling Group
• Aiysha (AJ) Johnson, CEO and executive director, New Jersey Society of CPAs (NJCPA)
• Dean Paranicas, former president and CEO, HealthCare Institute of New Jersey
• David Shipley; co-chair, State and Local Tax Group; Stevens & Lee

Leonard C. Johnson Award

• Assemblywoman Aura Dunn, R-25th District, assistant minority whip
• Assemblyman Roy Freiman, D-16th District, deputy majority leader
• Vin Gopal, D-11th District, Democratic Conference chair
• Michael Testa, R-1st District, Senate Republican whip

Thank you! It’s an honor to receive the Leonard C. Johnson Award from @NJBIA https://t.co/ubK3tVuqFR

— Aiysha (AJ) Johnson (@NJCPA_CEO) December 4, 2024

Additionally, U.S. Sen. Cory Booker, D-N.J., delivered video remarks during the event.

Other panel discussions also explored:

• The state of the economy and how a change in the presidential administration will impact the business community; and
• The current political landscape following the November election – and heading into New Jersey’s aforementioned 2025 race.