Bill Spadea emerged as the favored candidate in the Ocean County Republican Convention, securing the party’s endorsement for governor with a strong lead over his competitor, Jack Ciattarelli. Spadea received 129 votes, while Ciattarelli finished with 83. The convention, held at the Clarion Hotel in Toms River, also finalized endorsements for various legislative and county-level races as the Republican party gears up for the upcoming election season.
Ocean County GOP Chairman George Gilmore, who presided over the event, had anticipated Spadea’s victory, projecting an approximate 60/40 split. His prediction was nearly spot-on, with the final vote count differing by less than a percentage point.
The endorsement process followed long-standing bylaws that have governed the Ocean County GOP for decades, with only minor adjustments over the years. Voting took place through secret ballots, with actual voting booths set up to ensure fairness. A screening committee initially evaluated the gubernatorial candidates, ultimately recommending Spadea. While nominations were still open during the convention, only Ciattarelli and Spadea contested the race, while other candidates were affirmed without opposition.
In addition to Spadea, the following candidates received endorsements:
- 9th Legislative District Assembly: Brian Rumpf and Gregory Myhre
- 10th Legislative District Assembly: Paul Kanitra and Gregory McGuckin
- 12th Legislative District Assembly: Robert Clifton and Alex Sauickie
- 30th Legislative District Assembly: Sean T. Kean and Ned Thomson
- Ocean County Sheriff: Michael Mastronardy
- Ocean County Clerk: Jack Kelly
- Ocean County Commissioners: Sam Ellenbogen and Raymond Gormley
To win the party’s backing, a candidate needed to secure at least 50% of the votes plus one. Out of 230 eligible voters, 212 participated in the gubernatorial race.
The convention was not without its disputes. A point of contention arose when members of the Ocean County Federation of Republican Women (OCRW) objected to being excluded from the voting process. The organization’s president, Vivian Vosbrinck, expressed frustration that after three decades of participation, the group was unexpectedly barred from casting votes.
GOP leadership defended the decision, citing legal guidance and party bylaws that restrict endorsements in races with multiple Republican contenders. While OCRW argued that their voting rights should have remained intact, the credentials committee upheld the ruling, emphasizing that the organization’s participation would have violated national and state-level policies. A similar restriction was applied to the Ocean County Young Republicans, who were also ineligible to vote.
Following his victory, Spadea addressed his supporters, vowing to carry his momentum into the primary and beyond. He praised Ocean County’s commitment to strengthening Republican leadership and outlined his vision for the state’s future.
Confident about his chances in the general election, Spadea pointed to recent voting trends as evidence that flipping New Jersey to Republican control is within reach. He pledged to focus on restoring integrity, common sense, and economic stability if elected.
With the Ocean County GOP’s endorsement in hand, Spadea now turns his attention to securing the party’s nomination statewide as the race for New Jersey’s governorship intensifies.
