Spadea pledges to serve just one term as governor if elected

Bill Spadea pledged to serve only one term as governor if elected.

The former radio host made the promise during Tuesday night’s chaotic GOP gubernatorial debate. Spadea, who recently stepped down from his New Jersey 101.5 radio show, said officials in the state spend too much of their time worried about re-election.

“I’m going to commit to you tonight to serve one term as your governor, because we have to separate the politics of reelection from the job of governing,” Spadea said during the debate. “And when you look at what has to happen in this state, a lot of unpopular political decisions will be made.”

Spadea would be the first governor to promise not to run for re-election since the state adopted its current constitution in 1947.

The radio personality said political power is “like a drug” and that leaders should separate the “politics of re-election” from their governing.

“It’s going to be a tough, tough road, and that’s why I make that commitment,” Spadea said.