Christie's Campaign Team Counting On Ocean County Supporters

As Gov. Chris Christie kicks off his campaign for president – he announced his candidacy as the latest candidate for Republican nominee for President Tuesday – he also is reaching out to friends, and lots of them, for help.

Shortly after his public announcement, Christie’s campaign announced more than 200 New Jersey residents – elected officials and businesspersons – have been tapped to help with his presidential run. Near the top of the list is one person whose ties to both the national GOP organization and Ocean County run deep: Virginia “Ginny” Haines.

Haines is a committeewoman on the Republican National Committee but also on the Ocean County committee. She served in the state Assembly from 1992-94, when she stepped down after former Gov. Christine Todd Whitman tapped her to serve as director of the New Jersey Lottery.

Also prominent in the list is George Gilmore, the Ocean County Republican Chairman, who is listed fourth on the finance leadership team.

In addition to Haines and Gilmore, Christie named the following officials who represent Ocean County on his political leadership team:

• U.S. Rep. Tom MacArthur, 3rd District
• Christopher J. Connors, N.J. State Senator, District 9
• James W. Holzapfel, N.J. State Senator, District 10
• Robert W. Singer, N.J. State Senator, District 30
• DiAnne Gove, Assemblywoman, District 9
• Brian Rumpf, Assemblyman, District 9
• Greg McGuckin, Assemblyman, District 10
• David W. Wolfe, Assemblyman, District 10
• Tom Kelaher, Ocean County Republican Committeeman and Toms River mayor
• Michael Mastronardy, Sheriff, Ocean County
• Scott Colabella, Clerk, Ocean County
• John “Jack” Kelly, Freeholder, Ocean County
• Jim Lacey, Freeholder, Ocean County
• John Bartlett, Jr., Freeholder, Ocean County
• Gerry Little, Freeholder, Ocean County

His finance leadership team also includes representatives with Ocean County ties:

• George Gilmore, Gilmore and Monahan, Toms River
• Larry Hesse, Hesse Construction, Bay Head
• Alex Markowits, Spring Hill Communities, Lakewood
• Laura and Richard Saker of Saker ShopRites, which includes the ShopRite on Route 37 in Toms River

The news release from the Christie campaign notes that those listed on the finance team are serving in a personal capacity. “Company names are provided for convenience only,” the announcement said.