It's a day past filing day and it's already getting ugly.

In a statement, former Montclair Councilor-At-Large Robert J. Russo threw a sharp elbow at former Montclair Mayor Sean Spiller, a 2025 candidate for Governor.

"Sean Spiller has NO grassroots, small, working people’s contributions or support! He has his own 'piggy bank' & machine of lists & money from one source: NJ teachers….and many are upset that their dues are being wasted on his personal ego trip & vanity campaign! He thinks he’s saving us all from Trump & Musk, while he spends wildly like they do on TV ads, billboards & expensive, glossy weekly mailings that exaggerate his accomplishments as a one-term mayor!

"He’s not in second place, not where he lives in Montclair, & not in Essex County, where he just came in almost last at 3% Vs Mikie Sherrill at 62% & Mayor Baraka at 33%!

"The whole campaign is a tragically well-funded consumer fraud, using other people’s money that could & should be contributed to other candidates who have a real chance of winning & helping our teachers, students, schools & taxpayers!"

Bob Russo, former Montclair Mayor.

Russo added:

"I serve as an AFTNJ Higher Ed VP as well as Treasurer & former Pres of the MSU Adjunct Faculty union. I am also a Retiree member of NTU! So pl list all of this, showing I am NOT anti NJEA. I am a teachers union supporter & leader myself, as well as Former Montclair Mayor …..longest serving Councilmember, 6 terms & 24 years. Senior Councilmember who mentored Spiller when he first won with 600 votes for a smallest ward Council seat on my coattails in 2012…..when I received the highest at-large vote of 3,500! Ran on his slate when he campaigned for Mayor in 2020. Without my alliance he would never have been elected! Our new Mayor Dr Renee Baskerville would have defeated him this past May if he stood for re election!

"I broke with him soon after 2020 swearing in disagreeing on almost every decision & action where he cost the township of Montclair much wasted money on excessive legal fees, hiring & appointing of political cronies, a bad Fire services regional contract w Glen Ridge & negative treatment of residents, especially Senior Citizens, w arrogant managers who had to be replaced! What a poor record to run on for Governor!"