Matt Riccardi

Matt Riccardi

Constitution Party

Education

High school

Union Hill High School

Associate

Brookdale Community College

Bachelor's

Hofstra University

Military

Service / branch

U.S. Marine Corps

Personal

Religion

Christian

Contact

Personal website

Matt Riccardi was the Constitution Party candidate for Governor of New Jersey in the 2017 election.

Biography

A native of Union City, New Jersey, Riccardi attended Jefferson Annex and graduated from Union Hill High School. After graduation, Riccardi joined the U.S. Marine Corps. Following his honorable discharge, Riccardi earned his associate degree from Brookdale Community College. Riccardi was then admitted to the University of Pennsylvania, which he attended until the birth of his first child. Riccardi earned his bachelor's degree from Hofstra University.

Elections

2017

See also: New Jersey gubernatorial and lieutenant gubernatorial election, 2017

New Jersey held an election for governor and lieutenant governor on November 7, 2017. Governor Chris Christie (R) was term-limited and ineligible to run for re-election. New Jersey elects its governor and lieutenant governor together on a joint ticket.

The general election took place on November 7, 2017. The primary election was held on June 6, 2017. The filing deadline for candidates wishing to run in the primary election was April 3, 2017.

The following candidates ran in the election for Governor and Lieutenant Governor of New Jersey.

New Jersey Gubernatorial and Lieutenant Gubernatorial Election, 2017
Party		Candidate	Vote %	Votes
	Democratic	Phil Murphy/Sheila Oliver	56.03%	1,203,110
	Republican	Kim Guadagno/Carlos Rendo	41.89%	899,583
	Independent	Gina Genovese/Derel Stroud	0.57%	12,294
	Libertarian	Peter Rohrman/Karese Laguerre	0.49%	10,531
	Green	Seth Kaper-Dale/Lisa Durden	0.47%	10,053
	Constitution	Matt Riccardi	0.32%	6,864
	Independent	Vincent Ross/April Johnson	0.23%	4,980
Total Votes (6385/6385 precincts reporting)				2,147,415
Source: New Jersey Division of Elections

Kim Guadagno defeated Jack Ciattarelli, Hirsh Singh, Joseph Rudy Rullo, and Steve Rogers in the Republican primary.

New Jersey Republican Gubernatorial Primary, 2017
Candidate	Vote %	Votes
Kim Guadagno	46.82%	113,846
Jack Ciattarelli	31.08%	75,556
Hirsh Singh	9.76%	23,728
Joseph Rudy Rullo	6.51%	15,816
Steve Rogers	5.84%	14,187
Total Votes		243,133
Source: New Jersey Division of Elections

Phil Murphy defeated Jim Johnson, John Wisniewski, Ray Lesniak, Bill Brennan, and Mark Zinna in the Democratic primary.

New Jersey Democratic Gubernatorial Primary, 2017
Candidate	Vote %	Votes
Phil Murphy	48.42%	243,643
Jim Johnson	21.91%	110,250
John Wisniewski	21.57%	108,532
Ray Lesniak	4.83%	24,318
Bill Brennan	2.24%	11,263
Mark Zinna	1.04%	5,213
Total Votes		503,219
Source: New Jersey Division of Elections

Campaign themes

2017

The following themes were found on Riccardi's campaign website. For a full list of themes, click here.

“	Taxes Plan: We must curtail spending in various areas to gain ground on our piled up unfunded liabilities and enormous debt. In addition we must increase revenue outside of taxation. If we cut property taxes it will put money back in your wallet and that will help the economy in other ways! ​ Property: My plan is to cut PROPERTY TAXES with an incremental reduction plan cutting up to 10% and saving $1k for an individual household depending on the municipality. ​ Sales: All sales tax on purchases between 12k and 25k will be taxed at a lower rate of 5%. Everything below 12k will remain at 7% with the normal restrictions applying. The savings on the cost of an average car would be between $240 - $500. ​ Gas tax: Will be repealed! The revenue from the purging of various useless political favors handed out as jobs over the years will produce what is needed to fund the fixing of our roads! The gas tax is counter productive to everything we are trying to accomplish. If we want to pay for pensions and roads, perhaps Corrupticians should stop handing out contracts to bad businesses who never complete them squandering hundreds of millions in taxpayer dollars annually. The decrease in the gas tax will get NJ drivers back on the road without fear or worry, which is good for everyone. ​ Income tax: Will be eliminated effective starting January 1, 2019. In place I would create a simple Consumption Tax. ​​ Corporate tax: NJ was ranked the worst yet again in Corporate Tax in 2016! It's no wonder we have businesses fleeing for better opportunities, because NJ continues to cater to Corrupt special interests while breaking the back of its small business owners! My plan is to eliminate corporate tax in favor of a gross profits tax, which would require a fee of only $700 annually for businesses under $500k. Jobs 4 NJ The formula for building a successful economy has always resided in the people! I believe that NJ workers are the best in this nation. We work the hardest and have a variety of career sources very vast and different from most other states. All that being said, I believe our leaders have failed. Through years and years of over-spending, over-taxing, failed pension promises and catering to undeserved or not required benefits, NJ has become the most indebted state in the nation whose taxation has spiraled out of control and whose business climate is the worst nationwide. We have more businesses and residents leaving than any other state in the nation. So what can we do? ​ Plan: We must create jobs through small business. We must entice larger corporations, who are seeking to invest in the residents of our state, back into our framework, we must work to reform tort litigation, we must work to cut taxation for business and residents, we must cut spending for benefits for illegal aliens and other unnecessary benefits. We must invest heavily in infrastructure and technology, building a high speed rail and leading the nation in fusion technology research and development. We must also have a workforce ready to involve our college graduates so they aren't leaving NJ for other states. We must open doors for them to get immediate work experience or open their own businesses. ​ To get the job market stimulated we need less dependency on the public sector and more innovation and support in the private sector. Less incentives for big business and large corporations and far greater capabilities for small businesses and dreamers who seek to make a living in their towns and cities, regardless of their educational experience or credit history. Minimum wage will go so far, but a thriving market with small businesses leading instead of Pharma and Oil will create solid jobs that pay enough for NJ workers to live comfortably and prepare for their future! My jobs plan will produce hundreds of billions in revenue for our state and will create millions of jobs! The unemployment and welfare rates will shrink exponentially and the quality of life will for NJ residents will boom as the median income goes from $36k/yr over $50k/yr. It's time to Rebuild NJ, Invest in NJ, & Innovate in NJ!	”
—Matt Riccardi

See also

• Governor of New Jersey
• New Jersey gubernatorial and lieutenant gubernatorial election, 2017

External links

Suggest a link

• Riccardi for New Jersey
• Riccardi for New Jersey - Facebook
• Riccardi for New Jersey - Twitter
• Riccardi for New Jersey - Youtube