Bill Spadea


William G. "Bill" Spadea is an American businessman and television host from New Jersey, who was the Republican nominee for United States Congress in New Jersey's 12th congressional district in 2004. He was Chairman of the College Republican National Committee and currently hosts Chasing New Jersey. As of December 2015, Spadea has been the morning drive time host on New Jersey 101.5, replacing long time morning personality Jim Gearhart.

Background

Spadea graduated from Boston University in 1991. He is a former United States Marine receiving an honorable discharge in 1999. Spadea served as the elected Chairman of the College Republican National Committee. During his term, the Republican National Committee discontinued funding for the College Republicans.

CRNC Chairmanship

Spadea began a nationwide program to register students with the CRNC. The use of the standard form for recruitment of College Republicans started during his term from 1993 through 1995 and helped the CRNC to get a grasp on its total membership. He kept contact with the membership through a national newspaper titled the Broadside, which was delivered to tens of thousands of College Republicans across the country. Spadea assisted the hundreds of youth efforts that changed the course of history by electing a Republican Congress for the first time over 40 years in 1994.

Run for Congress and political follow-up

Running a grassroots campaign that included walking 200 miles to each of 44 towns in the district, he polled over 40% of the vote on election day and was ranked 17th out of 157 GOP challengers nationwide.
Spadea was successful in raising more money than any other Republican challenger in New Jersey in 2004. He was considered a possible candidate for the United States Senate in 2006. Spadea served as a surrogate speaker for former New York City Mayor and presidential candidate Rudy Giuliani in New Jersey.
In 2012, Spadea ran for the state legislature, running for the 16th District's Assembly seat that was vacant after the death of Assemblyman Peter J. Biondi. In the convention to appoint a replacement, he finished second with 52 votes, behind Readington Township Committeewoman Donna Simon with 155 votes.
Spadea lost both of his political campaigns.
Spadea is a regular guest and contributor on WNYW in New York City and WWOR-TV as a political analyst and Republican strategist.

Positions

In June 2018, Spadea advocated for a state constitutional amendment to revoke the controversial Mount Laurel doctrine, arguing the imposition of unnecessary housing development increased tax burdens unfairly.

Personal life

Since 1999, Spadea has been a corporate vice president for education and career development in the real estate industry for Weichert, Realtors. He lives in Princeton, New Jersey with his wife and their two children.