TOMS RIVER, NJ – A recent visit by defeated 2021 New Jersey gubernatorial candidate Jack Ciattarelli was passed off by the now-decertified Toms River Republican Club as a sort of endorsement by Ciattarelli earlier this week. Ciattarelli’s campaign manager Erik Arpert said that never happened.
Arpert said news coverage of Ciattarelli’s visit to Toms River has been inaccurate.
“Jack did not endorse Geri Ambrosio for mayor,” Arpert told Shore News Network on Tuesday. “In fact, we didn’t even know they were endorsing candidates that night. Jack was not even in the room when the endorsements were made.”
The images shared by the decertified club appeared to be an endorsement, but Ciattarelli said it was nothing more than a photo op. The photo was apparently used by the club as it attempts to regain certification and credibility ahead of the upcoming Ocean County GOP convention in Toms River.
“Ciattarelli attended the club’s meeting to reach out to more Republican voters ahead of his 2025 campaign for governor; it was nothing more than that,” Arpert said.
“Jack has not endorsed anyone for mayor in Toms River,” Arpert added.
Arpert was the campaign manager for Sheriff Michael Mastronardy last June in a close election loss to Trump-pardoned GOP Chairman George Gilmore. Apert also managed the campaign for Jackson Township Mayor Michael Reina. Reina defeated the Gilmore-aligned candidate Marty Flemming last November. After defeating Flemming, Gilmore removed Reina from the county screening committee in retaliation.
Gilmore has essentially flagged both Arpert and Ciattarelli as political enemy combatants. Gilmore endorsed Phil Rizzo for Governor in the 2021 GOP primary election against Ciattarelli. Last year, Gilmore sued Arpert and others involved in Mastronardy’s GOP Chairman election campaign. That lawsuit has since been dismissed. Ciattarelli supported Mastronardy for GOP Chairman last June.
That’s good news for Toms River Mayor Maurice “Mo Hill” and his team, close allies of Ciattarelli. He will attend a political fundraiser for Hill next week in Berkeley Township.