Ciattarelli slams Gilmore, Spadea in letter to Ocean GOP: "I don't run from tough fights."
The gubernatorial candidate issued an open letter to the Ocean County GOP's screening committee that took aim at their conflicted Chairman.
Toms River - Republican gubernatorial candidate Jack Ciattarelli sent an open letter to the screening committee for the Ocean County Republican Organization making clear his intentions to share “[his] vision for a safer, more affordable and more prosperous state, as well as my commitment to working in concert with President Trump to put New Jersey and America First.”
The caveat? He’ll most likely lose their endorsement — and he knows it.
“It is the worst kept secret in New Jersey politics that Chairman Gilmore is on the payroll of Bill Spadea’s political organization to the tune of $85,000 (and counting), lining his pockets at the expense of your proud organization’s credibility,” writes Ciattarelli, adding:
It’s notable that George is the ONLY County Chairman in the state to so brazenly accept payment for what is widely seen as an attempt to rig your process and put Ocean County’s support up for sale. In doing so, George has put all of you in an impossible position. Frankly, it’s as if he has stolen a page from the DNC’s behind-the-scenes campaign to hand the nomination to Kamala Harris last year. We all know how that worked out.
Ciattarelli thanked all the Ocean County Republicans who privately contacted him to express their displeasure at the pressure and threats they’ve received from Gilmore and his allies, adding that “many are embarrassed and frustrated by how the county's endorsement process is being conducted.”
”They see how deeply flawed a candidate Mr. Spadea is - with more evidence of those flaws rearing its ugly head this week - but they fear reprisals from George should they speak out,” writes Ciattarelli.
Ciattarelli ended the letter, stating: “To that end, I don’t blame anyone who feels they ‘need to do what they have to do’ to protect themselves, their elected office, or their families livelihoods. Unlike Mr. Spadea…I don’t run from tough fights”
Gilmore is also an advisor to Spadea's Common Sense Club which, along with Spadea’s campaign, was the subject of a bombshell exposé from POLITICO’s Matt Friedman where dubious fundraising tactics including scamming unknowing seniors was commonplace.
In 2019, Gilmore was convicted of two counts of failing to pay over to the IRS payroll taxes withheld from the firm's employees and one count of making false statements on a bank loan application submitted to Ocean First Bank. Although later pardoned by President Trump, Gilmore is expected to pay back all of his back taxes.
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