ATLANTA, GA — An 85-year-old Georgia woman who previously said she had never heard of New Jersey gubernatorial candidate Bill Spadea has continued to be billed for campaign donations by his political group, months after her concerns were first reported.

Margaret McLendon, a retired state worker from Georgia’s Division of Family & Children Services, originally told Politico in February that she was shocked to learn she had donated $590 to Spadea’s campaign through multiple contributions.

“It bothers me a lot. I don’t remember him … [I]t’s my personal money and my funds are limited,” she said at the time.

According to an article published by Politico:

Margaret McLendon, a retiree from Georgia, didn’t recall ever hearing the name Bill Spadea, a Republican candidate for governor in New Jersey.

So McLendon, 85, was surprised to learn from a reporter that she donated six times to Spadea’s campaign since October, for a total of $590.

”I don’t understand it,” McLendon, who’s had a long career in Georgia’s Division of Family & Children Services, said in a phone interview. “It bothers me a lot. I don’t remember him … [I]t’s my personal money and my funds are limited. In fact, I’m totally out right now.”

Despite that, new records show that Spadea’s Common Sense Club, a non-profit operating identically to a political PAC, continued charging McLendon’s credit card for a total of $2,201 through recurring payments.

The elderly woman still has no idea who Bill Spadea is.

The Common Sense Club, which has positioned itself as a grassroots conservative movement, has faced mounting scrutiny over its spending practices. Rather than funding downballot candidates as originally pledged, the nonprofit political group has routed more than $225,000 to BillSpadea.Com LLC, a limited liability company owned by Spadea himself.

Spadea campaign manager Tom Bonfonti did not reply for comment when asked about these recurring, and increasing transactions.

Elizabeth Nader, who took over the organization following Spadea’s formal entry into the governor’s race, acknowledged the payments. “That was before he announced he was running for governor,” she said in a press release regarding the LLC payouts.

Non Profit “Pseudo-PAC” also employed convicted felon with ties to both parties

Spadea’s financial decisions have also drawn attention for employing George Gilmore, a former Ocean County GOP chairman convicted on federal tax charges in 2019. Gilmore currently remains on the non-profit’s payroll while also consulting for a Democrat-run lobbying firm led by Philip Norcross, brother of South Jersey Democratic powerbroker George Norcross.

Gilmore’s political affiliations have spanned both major parties. Before his current position, he was partners with New Jersey Democratic State Chairman LeRoy Jones at the 1868 Public Affairs firm. Despite his criminal conviction, Gilmore has continued to maintain influence in state politics through his consulting work.

Gilmore is often seen as the man behind the green curtain on Spadea’s campaign and is expected to play a major role in Trenton should Spadea defy all odds and win the election in November.

McLendon’s case has reignited concerns about how political groups manage recurring online donations, especially involving elderly contributors who may not fully understand where their money is going. There has been no public response from Spadea or his campaign regarding the continued charges to McLendon’s account.

The elderly woman’s comments are clear. She is being billed in microtransactions by a man in New jersey running for governor in a state nearly 1,000 miles away.

Editorial Note: We get it. Common Sense Club is not a PAC. It’s registered as a non-profit, but since it’s operating to funnel money to political candidates, political power brokers, political consultants, and Bill Spadea’s LLC, we are going to refer to it as a PAC.