Real estate — policy and donors — is shaping up to be a major piece of the New Jersey gubernatorial race.
Democrat Mikie Sherrill and Republican Jack Ciattarelli are contending to replace Phil Murphy as the Garden State’s governor. During a debate on Sunday, according to Gothamist, real estate took the spotlight during a critical moment.
When asked about lowering rents, Sherrill retorted that her opponent was “not going to do anything about it because one of his biggest donors is actually being taken to court and sued on this very issue.”
The oblique reference was about Jeff Kurtz’s Kamson Corporation, one of 10 landlords being sued by the state alongside RealPage for the use of rent-setting algorithms, which the state argues is collusive.
Kurtz justified the use of the algorithm and Kamson was part of a motion in July to dismiss the state’s lawsuit.
The Kurtzes have contributed more than $750,000 to Ciattarelli’s campaigns since 2021, including multiple runs for the governorship. In June, they provided a $200,000 contribution to a political action committee attacking Sherrill.
Kamson owns and operates more than 10,000 units across the state. It drew scrutiny two years ago when two small children were killed in a fire at a Kamson complex.
Ciatarelli’s campaign has brought in more than $250,000 from the real industry. Sherrill’s campaign, meanwhile, has landed more than $100,000 in donations from the industry, counting developers Steven Plofker and Chris Yegen among her base.
Neither candidate commented to Gothamist on the contributions.
On the policy front, Sherrill’s real estate focus is on going after negligent landlords and cracking down on drastic rent increases tied to software use. Ciattarelli wants to lower property taxes and energy costs to improve affordability.
An Emerson College Polling/PIX11/The Hill survey released on Thursday put the race between the two candidates at a dead heat.
— Holden Walter-Warner
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