Middletown, NJ – While most New Jerseyans were thinking about America’s fallen veterans on D-Day, one candidate running for governor in the Garden State was apparently thinking about how he was going to get paid before election.
Just days before the June 10, Republican primary election, Bill Spadea, a radio host and gubernatorial candidate, received a $12,000 payment from the Common Sense Club’s Elect Common Sense Club PAC, according to records filed with the New Jersey Election Law Enforcement Commission. The payment was made to Spadea’s LLC, Bill Spadea.Com LLC.
The timing of the payment, which came as Spadea’s campaign was in its final sprint, has sparked questions about the financial dealings of the Elect Common Sense Club PAC, a group closely tied to Spadea’s campaign. Earlier this year, Spadea claimed he was owed significantly more money from the PAC, though details of those debts remain unclear.
The $12,000 transfer marks the latest in a series of financial transactions between Spadea and the PAC, including roughly $250,000 in prior payments that had already drawn scrutiny.
Elizabeth Nader, a spokesperson for Spadea’s campaign, previously defended the earlier $250,000, stating those funds were disbursed before Spadea officially declared his candidacy. However, the new payment, made just four days before the primary, occurred well after Spadea’s campaign was in full swing, raising concerns about compliance with election finance regulations and ethics.
Spadea’s campaign ultimately fell short, with Jack Ciattarelli securing the Republican nomination for governor on Election Day.
The loss has only intensified focus on the $12,000 payment, which creates a picture of the captain jumping ship, leaving the crew behind, knowing it was sailing directly into a rocky reef.
Neither Spadea nor his campaign team has commented publicly on the June 6 payment.
