OCEAN COUNTY – As Commissioner Virginia “Ginny” Haines prepares to leave public office, the words spoken about her during her final meeting and the reflections she shared in a recent interview reveal a consistent legacy. Her pride is not rooted in titles or longevity, but in outcomes. In land preserved, systems built, and institutions strengthened to serve the county long after her time in office.
Inside Haines’ office, that philosophy is visible. Artwork by local artists lines the walls, scenes of Ocean County rendered with care and familiarity. Old Barney rises from one canvas. Other pieces capture bay waters and shore landscapes that generations recognize as home. The space feels intentional. It reflects a public servant who never lost sight of place.
Nearby, photographs trace decades of public life, moments when county service either came after or intersected with state and national history.
Haines’ connection to Ocean County runs far deeper than her years in office. Her family’s roots stretch back generations, long before Ocean County formally existed. That history has shaped how she views her role in government.
“I just love Ocean County,” Haines said in a recent interview. “It was a great place to grow up. You had the ocean, the bay, the natural lands, and the real downtowns. It was just a great place to live, and it still is.”
Over a career that spanned local, county, and state government, Haines held numerous roles, including service in the New Jersey Legislature as both a member of the Assembly and later as Clerk of the Assembly. She also served nearly eight years as New Jersey Lottery director, 20 years on the Republican National Committee, and four decades on the New Jersey Republican State Committee. But when asked what she is most proud of, her answers came quickly and specifically.
Open space tops the list.
“One thing people don’t realize is that about 60 percent of Ocean County is preserved,” Haines said. “That shocks people. But it’s federal, state, county, and local land working together. That didn’t happen by accident.”
During her ten years on the county’s governing board, as the title “freeholder” changed to “commissioner,” Haines spent much of that time as liaison to the Department of Parks and Recreation and the Natural Lands Trust Fund.
Among the acquisitions she points to with pride are major natural land purchases such as Forked River Mountain and preserved farmland, including one of only two remaining preserved farms in Lakewood.
“Preserving farmland matters too,” she said. “It’s part of our history. Once it’s gone, you can’t get it back.”
She is equally proud of the county’s investment in public services that often operate quietly in the background.
“We provide a lot for our residents,” Haines said. “Ocean Ride, Meals on Wheels, human services, education. And we’ve done it while keeping the county affordable.”
Haines emphasized the importance of Ocean County College, calling it one of the county’s greatest assets.
“You can go to Ocean County College and Kean University for about $36,000 for four years,” she said. “That changes lives. That matters for families.”
Fiscal stewardship is another point of pride. During her decade as a commissioner, Ocean County maintained its AAA bond rating, a distinction that reflects long term fiscal discipline and allows the county to provide services while keeping costs lower for taxpayers.
“That doesn’t just sound good,” she said. “It means we’re being responsible with taxpayer dollars. It means we can provide services without overburdening people.”
Those priorities were echoed during her final commissioners’ meeting, when the board paused its agenda to formally recognize her service. A resolution cited her decades of leadership, her role in expanding and improving the county’s park system, and her stewardship of thousands of acres of preserved land.
But it was the personal remarks that captured her impact most clearly.
Frank Sadeghi, Deputy Director of the Board of Commissioners, spoke about Haines’ deep and longstanding commitment to Ocean County, noting that it is something evident every time she speaks about her family and their history of involvement in the community. He also reassured onlookers that although Haines will no longer be an elected official, she will continue to make a difference.
“She’s involved in so many boards and commissions,” said Sadeghi. “We’re still going to see a lot of her at these meetings – she’s not really going too far.”
Haines was only the second woman elected to the county’s governing body, then known as the Board of Chosen Freeholders, following Hazel Gluck, who served from 1977 to 1980. Next year, Jennifier Bacchione will be the sole woman serving on the Ocean County Board of Commissioners.
Bacchione described Haines as a role model, noting that they first met when the Women’s Republican Club of Berkeley was formed. “One of the first things she said to me after I was sworn in was that she always knew I would get up here,” Bacchione said. “I’m proud to work with her, learn from her…It’s women empowering women.”
When Haines spoke, emotion overtook her. “I swore I wasn’t going to do this,” she said. “I love each and every one of you. I love what the county is and what it does.”
She thanked county staff across all departments, reminding them that the success credited to elected officials belongs just as much to those doing the work behind the scenes.
“You’re the ones who make us look good,” she said. “You’re the ones out there every day.”
At 79, Haines acknowledged that stepping away was not easy.
“I was very torn,” she said. “I love what I do. But it’s time. It’s time for younger people to step up.”
Her retirement, combined with Commissioner Jack Kelly’s election as Ocean County Clerk, will open two seats on the Board of Commissioners. Those seats will be filled by Sam Ellenbogen and Ray Gormley, who won election in November 2025, maintaining the Republican Party’s long-standing hold on county government.
Haines offered them encouragement.
“This is a great county,” she said. “We can all be very proud of what it has done and what it will continue to do.”
As she prepares to leave office, the pride she carries is clear and unmistakable. It is not about how long she served, but about what endures.
“I’m not leaving Ocean County,” Haines said. “I’m just stepping into a different role.”
