Before SaveJersey.com existed? Chris Christie became a rockstar and won the 2009 Republican primary? The de facto leader of the New Jersey conservative movement was Steve Lonegan, Save Jerseyans. Repeated failed runs for high office (included in 2009) diminished his brand over the course of time, but Lonegan’s memorable “taxpayer minute” ads on NJ 101.5 delivered in his former capacity as head of the state’s Americans for Prosperity chapter were pretty much all Garden State conservatives had for conservative media for a long time. That, and NJ 101.5’s morning show.
Lonegan apparently has a problem with Bill Spadea’s stewardship of the station’s flagship broadcast. The blog Jersey Conservative published an early July 2024 letter from Lonegan to Townsquare CEO Bill Wilson insisting that “[m]any of us feel let down by the format change on NJ101.5’s morning program.”
The New Jersey Election Law Enforcement Commission (ELEC) decided back in June to leave Spadea’s show alone for the time being despite arguments that the 2025 Republican gubernatorial candidate’s campaign is receiving a massive benefit from daily air time. Spadea celebrated the decision, but the station has had to make adjustments to the show (and its disclaimer) to avoid running afoul of campaign finance law.
“On Friday ELEC forced us to defend my right to remain on the radio and do my job. Well, I’ve got big news… we won!” the radio host declared in a post-hearing email blast to his supporters. “Let me be clear… this campaign has never been about me, it’s about the hardworking men and women of New Jersey. This attempt at silencing me and removing me from the radio was about protecting the career politicians and bureaucrats that have broken our state. They’re afraid of the power of OUR VOICE and what we can do together. Well, after today’s ruling, I’m proud to say I’m not going anywhere!”
Former Bogota Mayor Lonegan apparently disagrees.
“Mr. Spadea is a candidate for public office and, in return for allowing him to remain on the air, Townsquare Media has struck a deal with state officials that has necessitated a change in the format of the morning program,” complained Lonegan. “Gone is the focus on public policy. Gone are the discussions about politics and legislation. And while Mr. Spadea continues to say, ‘As long as I have a mic, you have a voice’, that voice is being limited to discussing such things as ‘the best dive bar’ or preferred methods of barbecuing.”
In his letter, Lonegan offers a couple of proposed alternatives including “a series of substitute hosts to discuss policy a couple of times each week.”
Here’s the letter (h/t Jersey Conservative):
July 9, 2024
Mr. Bill Wilson, CEO
Townsquare Media
1 Manhattanville Road, Suite 202
Purchase, NY 10577
Dear Mr. Wilson:
For many years, under various hosts, NJ101.5 offered programming that provided a venue for discussing public policy from a populist/conservative viewpoint. In fact, NJ101.5’s morning program was an indispensable platform for informing listeners about important public policies they were no more than vaguely aware of.
After getting his start as the leader of a tax revolt, morning host Jim Gearhart held court at NJ101.5 for 25 years, unpacking the political and policy questions of the day. In 2015, he was succeeded by Bill Spadea, who did much the same as Mr. Gearhart and performed admirably well.
Now that has changed. Mr. Spadea is a candidate for public office and, in return for allowing him to remain on the air, Townsquare Media has struck a deal with state officials that has necessitated a change in the format of the morning program. Gone is the focus on public policy. Gone are the discussions about politics and legislation. And while Mr. Spadea continues to say, “As long as I have a mic, you have a voice”, that voice is being limited to discussing such things as “the best dive bar” or preferred methods of barbecuing.
These are not the policy discussions New Jersey needs; I fear that the state and the community formerly served have lost out by the programming change that has eliminated discussion on important topics not covered elsewhere. There is no other similar resource covering the media market served by NJ101.5.
With these concerns in mind, I encourage you to bring on a series of substitute hosts to discuss policy a couple of times each week. After all, if Mr. Spadea is successful in his bid for public office, NJ101.5 will need to replace him anyway and these substitutes will help ease that transition.
Many of us feel let down by the format change on NJ101.5’s morning program. Presidential and congressional campaigns are in full swing this year and deserve proper attention and analysis.
Meanwhile, next year’s campaign for the party nominations for governor is also underway. NJ101.5 should also be closely covering this all-important contest, but how can it do so ethically when the morning show is hosted by one of the candidates? Instead of suppressing political coverage and policy discussions, why not provide equal time for each candidate (of both parties) to discuss certain topics. I bet that would spark a lot of audience interest.
Please consider these suggestions and don’t hesitate to reach out if you’d like to discuss them further.
Thanking you for your time, I am
Sincerely yours,
Steve Lonegan,
Former Gubernatorial Candidate
