TOMS RIVER, NJ — Republican gubernatorial candidate Bill Spadea has been hitting the campaign trail hard, knocking on doors along the Jersey Shore.
On Monday, Spadea was pounding the pavement alongside Ocean County Commissioner Rob Arace, who is pushing a contentious plan for a homeless encampment along Route 9.
The duo’s door-to-door efforts come as part of Spadea’s bid to secure the GOP nomination in the June 10, 2025, primary, aligning with like-minded candidates and local leaders in Ocean County, New Jersey’s most influential Republican stronghold.
According to county officials, that campus could house hundreds of the homeless, provide drug treatment, mental health services, and job placement services. Local officials claim the county’s push for compassion has also had a negative side-effect. Toms River is becoming the homeless capital of the Jersey Shore, attracting homeless from across the state for the free food at a soup kitchen operated by Jon Bon Jovie, and the prospect of a free place to live at the Jersey Shore.
Arace, the 30-something-year-old former Manchester mayor recently elected to county commissioner, has stirred debate with his vocal support for a proposed homeless campus on Route 9, a project championed by Ocean County GOP Chairman George Gilmore and developer Jack Morris.
In a letter to county residents last week, Arace defended the initiative, arguing it would address homelessness in a structured manner while boosting regional resources. The plan, however, has drawn sharp criticism from some local residents and GOP factions who fear it could strain Toms River’s infrastructure and alter the character of the Jersey Shore community.
The Route 9 homeless campus proposal, backed by Gilmore’s political muscle and Morris’s development interests, has become a lightning rod in local politics.
Gilmore, who was previously convicted on federal tax and mortgage fraud charges, was pardoned by President Donald J. Trump. He is also a paid consultant for Spadea’s political campaign, earning $5,000 per month.
Critics, including some Republican activists, have accused Gilmore of leveraging his influence to push the project, with allegations surfacing on X that he’s working with “far-left interests” to force the plan through.
Adding to the controversy, Arace recently sided with rock star Jon Bon Jovi, a figure often associated with progressive causes, to allow Bon Jovi’s JBJ Soul Kitchen to operate a soup kitchen at the Ocean County Library.
Arace defended the county’s decision to let Bon Jovi operate a soup kitchen at the downtown branch of the Ocean County Library. He discounted local police department reports of crime incidents involving the homeless at the library and at a warming shelter operated in cooperation with the county commissioners.
Later, Arace and other commissioners admitted quietly, that sheriff’s patrols have been ramped up around the library and security cameras have been installed.
County commissioner Jennifer Bacchione told Shore News Network that the lease contract, signed prior to her taking office, will expire on May 27th. Bacchione said the county does not have plans at this time to renew that lease.
In his letter, Arace criticized local leadership for opposing the initiative, arguing it aligns with the county’s commitment to addressing poverty. The move has raised eyebrows among conservative voters, with some questioning Arace’s alignment with Bon Jovi’s “far-left” reputation and Spadea’s decision to campaign alongside him.
Spadea is also danger close to the homeless shelter. Gilmore, his paid campaign consultant is also a lobbyist for left-wing lobbying firm operated by Phil Norcross, brother of South Jersey Democrat George Norcross.
When asked if Spadea supports his chief political strategist’s plan for a massive homeless facility on Route at the Jersey Shore, the Spadea team did not comment.
“Arace’s support for the soup kitchen and the Route 9 project shows he’s more interested in grandstanding than listening to Toms River residents,” said a local GOP organizer who requested anonymity. “Spadea tying himself to this could hurt him with the base.”
Others, however, see the partnership as a pragmatic move to address pressing social issues while consolidating support in a key county.
“This shows a side of Bill Spadea that he often hides on the campaign trail. At the end of the day, he does have compassion and while some Republicans want to throw the homeless problem under the rug, Bill isn’t afraid to address the problem head on,” one Ocean County GOP committee woman told Shore News Network today, requesting anonymity due to the political sensitivity of the topic. “We can be Republicans and be the caretakers of the homeless across New Jersey at the same time.”
Spadea has leaned heavily on Gilmore’s backing and the county’s organizational strength.
His campaign has emphasized affordability, public safety, and government efficiency, themes that resonate with Ocean County’s conservative voters.
Yet, the Route 9 homeless campus and the Bon Jovi controversy risk alienating some of those same voters, especially as opponents like Ciattarelli criticize Spadea’s ties to Gilmore, whom Ciattarelli has accused of rigging the endorsement process.