Zoe Heath, Chair of the Sussex County Democratic Committee, said on TikTok that NJEA President Sean Spiller’s acknowledgment that regular union dues are supporting his gubernatorial campaign constitutes a conflict of interest and undermines the credibility of the union.
“That is your union president telling you that he is using your dues for his campaign,” said Heath. “A lot of educators I know thought it was just PAC money. It’s not. What buckles my mind isn’t just that this is a ridiculous amount of money to be spending. This is diluting the NJEA’s power.”
In April 2025, The New York Times reported that the New Jersey Education Association (NJEA) plans to spend up to $35 million from annual member dues to support Sean Spiller’s campaign for Governor. This marks an unprecedented level of union-backed political spending in the state. According to critics, this support raises ethical questions because Spiller serves as both NJEA President and a gubernatorial candidate. They argue that this dual role creates a serious conflict of interest and blurs the line between advocacy and self-benefit.
A 2025 report by the Sunlight Policy Center found that Spiller’s gubernatorial campaign is being supported with general NJEA dues, not limited to voluntary Political Action Committee (PAC) contributions. The report states that this use of mandatory funds raises legal and ethical red flags due to the NJEA president personally benefiting from the organization’s political spending while still in office. The authors concluded that the arrangement “defies basic standards of public trust and union transparency.”
According to MyPayMySay, the average annual union dues for teachers in New Jersey range between $900 and $1,100, depending on district and local union affiliations. With approximately 200,000 NJEA members, this gives the organization access to well over $180 million annually—enabling significant political expenditures like the one supporting Spiller’s campaign.
Heath is currently serving as Chair of the Sussex County Democratic Committee in New Jersey and has been active in regional Democratic organizing. She has also built a substantial online presence, using platforms like TikTok to discuss political developments in New Jersey. Heath often engages with transparency and ethics issues within state and local politics.
