TOMS RIVER, N.J. — Ocean County Commissioner Robert Arace has been terminated from his position at Morgan Municipal, a politically connected development and engineering firm linked to prominent figures in county politics, according to insider reports.
Arace was dismissed by Morgan Municipal executive Scott Tirella after a brief stint at the firm, which fellow Commissioner Frank Sadeghi and Joanne Gilmore, the wife of Ocean County Republican Chairman George Gilmore own. Sources familiar with the matter said Arace was asked to leave due to being ineffective in the role.
Tirella declined comment when asked about the firing.
The firing comes amid growing tensions between Arace and Sadeghi, who also owns Arya Properties, a residential development company active in Ocean County.
Before joining Morgan Municipal, Arace worked at Defined Logic, a Monmouth County-based web development company. His transition to Morgan Municipal raised eyebrows due to the firm’s political ties and the involvement of multiple public figures.
Though not listed in formal business documents, George Gilmore is reportedly a behind-the-scenes influence at Morgan Municipal, which holds numerous engineering contracts throughout the county. Gilmore, a Democratic political lobbyist and former chairman of the Ocean County GOP, is known for his long-standing relationships with developers in the region.
The situation has sparked concern over overlapping roles in public office and private business, especially after reports surfaced that Schmuel Ellenbogen, a candidate for Ocean County Commissioner, is also affiliated with Morgan Municipal.
Gilmore represented wealthy Lakewood megadonor Larry Bathgate in Manchester’s purchase of land owned by Bathgate for a staggering $20 million. The inside job led Arace to become a county commissioner under Gilmore’s wing and eventually a new job with Commissioner Sadeghi’s firm.
The firm’s employment of multiple figures tied to county governance has raised questions over the ethical boundaries between public service and private development interests.