CAPE MAY POINT – The final vote tally in the election for the Board of Commissioners has most likely been settled even though it is still unofficial.
As of the last count, incumbent Anita VanHeeswyk led with 106 votes. Following her were Suzanne Yunghans with 91 votes and Elise Geiger with 90, leaving incumbent Catherine Busch, with 89 votes, two votes short of retaining her seat on the commission or one vote short of requiring a recount or forcing a runoff election. Busch did not respond to a request for comment.
County Clerk Rita Rothberg told the Herald she had received feedback from the county Board of Elections suggesting that the vote count was final.
“I received word from the Board of Elections that there weren’t any timely postmarked mail-in ballots received before the deadline from Cape May Point voters,” Rothberg said. “The tally remains unofficial, but I don’t expect it to change.”
Deputy Mayor and presumptive Mayor-elect VanHeeswyk will be the only incumbent on the three-member commission; its members choose the mayor and deputy mayor from among themselves.
It is the first time in the borough’s history that all three commissioners will be women.
“I look forward to being joined by two women, making us the Point’s first all-female commission,” VanHeeswyk said.
“I would like to thank everyone for their confidence in me as I bring my many years of experience doing my best for Cape May Point.”
VanHeeswyk did not want to speculate on the major issues to be tackled, because departments will not be assigned until after the commissioners are sworn in. As the commissioner in charge of revenue and finance, she said maintaining fiscal stability is always a concern. The season for preparing the 2025 municipal budget has already begun, which means the two new commissioners will see a budget started before they take office.
She said the borough tries to keep costs down by hiring officials from other towns to work part time in Cape May Point, noting that is why the borough office closes at 2 p.m. Hiring officials such as a chief financial officer or tax collector from another town means the Point has well-trained people, yet salaries and wages are lower, she said.
VanHeeswyk said that, previously, nonpartisan towns held elections in May, and newly elected people had a breaking-in period. She said for inexperienced elected officials, the borough administrator provides a lot of support and assurance.
Contact the reporter, Christopher South, at csouth@cmcherald.com or 609-886-8600, ext. 128.
