Big group of Ocean County Republicans endorses Spadea

More than 50 Republican elected officials and party leaders in Ocean County today endorsed Bill Spadea for governor, giving him a significant support in a county that represents 12% of the total GOP voter registration in the state.

Spadea backers announced today include seven mayors – John Bacchione (Berkeley), William Cairns (Beachwood), Al Cirulli (Barnegat), Oscar Cradle (South Toms River), Joseph Hankins (Manchester), Bob Henken (Stafford), and Michael Reina (Jackson) – and five GOP municipal chairs: James Blavat (Berkeley), Joseph Jubert (South Toms River), Cathy Lindenbaum (Brick), Councilwoman Roxie Conniff (Manchester); and Amber Myhre (Stafford).   Also backing Spadea are five Republican club presidents: Jason Glogolich (South Toms River), Susan McCabe (Barnegat), Frank Nicolato (Manchester), Councilman Ed Zakar (Beachwood); and Ruthanne Scatturo (Brick); Scatturo is also the Ocean GOP vice chair.

“We are proud to stand with New Jersey’s next Governor, Bill Spadea,” said Bacchione.  “Bill is the pro-life candidate in the race and is the only Republican running who has the plan to reduce taxes, who will reduce the burden of school taxes on our senior citizens, and who can win in November.”

While Spadea is not competing in county GOP conventions across the state, Ocean appears to be the exception.

Endorsements also came from local elected officials: Al Billie, Joseph Marte, Pat Pasquale, and Jake Townsend (Barnegat); Steven Komsa, Dan Santos, and Thomas Price  (Beachwood); Douglas Bowens, Keith Buscio, James Byrnes, Sophia Gingrich, Thomas Grosse, Angela Guadagno, and Michael Signorile (Berkeley); Perry Albanese (Brick);  James Vaccaro and Craig Wallis (Manchester); Lori Ann McGe, Barry Wieck,  and Raymond Newman (Pine Beach); Bill Kosh, Thomas Rolzhausen, Kayla Rolzhausen, Sandy Ross, and Ed Murray (South Toms River); Justin Lamb (Toms River); Christopher DarConte, Steven Esposito, Sergio Fossa, Owen LaRocca, Lisa Mower and Amy Otte (Stafford);

Spadea has already won endorsements from Ocean County Republican Chairman George Gilmore, State Sen. Carmen Amato (R-Berkeley), Assemblymen Brian Rumpf (R-Little Egg Harbor and Greg Myhre (R-Stafford, County Commissioners Jennifer Bacchione and Rob Arace, Acting County Clerk John Catalano, and former Rep. Tom MacArthur.

“Ocean County is known as the strongest Republican organization in the state for a reason,” Spadea stated.  “The hard work and dedication of municipal leaders like the folks on this list provide the foundation for candidates to be successful.”