OCEAN COUNTY – Barbara “Bobbi Jo” Crea, a Little Egg Harbor Committeewoman and former mayor, won the official endorsement of the Ocean County Republican Organization at their County Council.
This means that she’ll have the party line for the primary election in the summer. If she wins that, she would have the party line for the general election in November. This is important because most people just vote for everyone in their party of choice.
“I am humbled by tonight’s vote and honored to have received the endorsement of my fellow Ocean County Republicans. I want to thank Chairman Frank Holman for a fair and well-run convention from start to finish,” said Crea, who also offered her thanks to Berkeley Township Councilman John Bacchione for a hard-fought race.
“I look forward to uniting our party and running alongside my friend, Commissioner Gary Quinn, as part of a dynamic, conservative ticket from top to bottom. Together, I am confident we will win decisively in June and November, and keep Ocean County the best place to live in New Jersey,” she said.
Crea has been on the Little Egg Harbor Township Committee for four terms. She served as mayor in 2019 and 2020.
She is the Little Egg Harbor Republican Municipal Chairwoman and has served on County Committee since 1996. She retired in 1994 as a Senior Executive with the New Jersey Division of Taxation, and is a Certified Public Manager.
The candidate said she was also proud of her local record of delivering results and safeguarding the special quality of life in her hometown. Crea also pledged to work hand-in-hand with the county’s small businesses to rebuild and recover from the pandemic lockdown orders, while keeping county residents healthy and safe.
Crea is also a member of the Ocean County Republican Federation of Women, a parishioner at Saint Theresa’s, a member of the American Legion Auxiliary Post 493, and a Trustee of the Great Bay Regional Volunteer EMS along with other civic and charitable pursuits.
The current make-up of the County Commissioners is all Republican. Commissioner Gerry Little announced that he would not run for re-election in 2021.
Republicans have generally won county races, with large percentages. The last Democrats to serve as County Commissioners (then called freeholders) were Paul Brush and Mark Troncone from 1990-1993.
The following Republicans also put in for the spot:
- John Bacchione, Berkeley Councilman
- Lawrence Cuneo, Pine Beach Mayor
- Peter Curatolo, Lacey Mayor
- Shawn Denning, Waretown Board of Education
- Victor Finamore, Brick Housing Advisor
- Lisa Hodgson-Henson, Surf City Realtor
- Andrew Kern, Jackson Council President
- Sharon McKenna, Stafford former Councilwoman
- Stephen Reid, former Point Pleasant Beach Mayor
- Michael A. Thulen, Sr., former Brick Councilman
- Rolf J. Weber, Island Heights Councilman
- Rory Wells, Manchester, former assistant prosecutor
