COURT HOUSE – The Cape May County Republican Party had plenty to celebrate Tuesday, Nov. 7, as their candidates – opposed and unopposed – were carried into office by large margins.
Of historic note was the election of Melanie Collette to the Cape May County Board of County Commissioners, joining Commissioners Will Morey and Robert Barr, who are already serving on the board.
County Republican Chairman Mike Donohue told the jubilant crowd regarding Collette, “It’s not easy to be a female, African American, conservative Republican.”
Donohue said Collette follows Assemblyman Antwan McClellan (R-1st), who was elected the first African American District 1 legislator as a Republican. McClellan and fellow Assemblyman Erik Simonsen (also R-1st) each received over 16,000 votes in Cape May County, as opposed to about 7,500 each for Democrats Damita White-Morris and Eddie Bonner.
“It’s fun to win, but it’s better to destroy people,” McClellan said.
Simonsen, who Donohue called “the rock star of the CapeGOP,” said it has always been a fight in the state Legislature, including a fight against Ørsted and the proposed offshore wind projects, a fight for schools, and a fight for law and order, touching on all the hot-button issues.
State Sen. Michael Testa (R-1st), who won the top of the ticket race with nearly 70% of the vote, said the Cape May County GOP chairman would go “undefeated” on election night, saying, “I guarantee it.” He said the Republican “red wave” started in Cape May County and he predicted it would continue in Cumberland County, as well, where the party had the opportunity to take control of that county’s board of commissioners. Testa also said there would be “a new mayor in Middle Township.”
Colette, when asked about the chairman referring to her as the first African American and first woman of color on the Board of County Commissioners, said being elected as the first woman of color to the board was secondary to simply being elected.
“It’s just knowing the work that they do, and that I qualify to be part of it. The other is just a bonus because I know it will benefit the board. I have a different perspective to bring as a member of the board, growing up African American in Cape May County, I can bring that experience to the board,” Colette said.
Colette said her role model in terms of politics would be former U.S. Secretary of State Condoleeza Rice followed by U.S. Sen. Tim Scott of South Carolina.
Donohue said Collette has been part of the Republican team for a long time in Cape May County, representing the party in Middle Township, which he described as the “heart of Cape May County.” He said she continued to work to develop the party’s viability in the township, with the Republicans eventually taking all three elected seats on the Middle Township Committee.
Barr, who was appointed to fill the seat vacated by E. Marie Hayes when she was appointed judge surrogate, was the top vote-getter among the county commission candidates. Unofficially, Barr had 17,426 votes to Collette’s 16,798, followed by Morey with 16,347. The loan Democrat, Patricia O’Connor, had 8,498 votes.
Barr, who was unopposed for the commission seat, said he did not run like he was unopposed. He said he worked every day, campaigning for 10 to 12 hours a day.
“I did it because I care about people and I want to help people,” he said.
Morey was reelected to his fifth term on the county governing body, serving first as a freeholder before the name was changed to the Board of County Commissioners. Morey made a brief apology to his wife, to whom he had promised he would only serve for four terms.
“I’m thankful that I was able to find a way to contribute to the community,” Morey said.
He said he was happy that there were people willing to become champions and challengers, perhaps a polite nod to O’Connor.
Donohue acknowledged Upper Township Committeeman Curtis Corson, who he said was the subject of some negative comments during the campaign, noting that Corson won by a 3-1 margin. Donohue referred to Corson as the party’s “lead man” in Upper Township, spearheading the fight there against the offshore wind project.
Donohue also called up Hayes, who beat her opponent, Beverly McCall, by a 2-1 margin. Hayes spoke about the difficult decision it was to step down from the county commission but also spoke of the rewards of doing the job of surrogate.
Sheriff Robert Nolan was elected to his third term with the highest overall vote total – 18,028 votes. Nolan thanked the Board of County Commissioners for supplying him with the tools he needed to do his job. He waxed political saying that if the board was made up of Democrats it would be “a fight on one issue after another.”
Middle Township Mayor Tim Donohue, the chairman’s brother, for his part announced the death of the Democratic Party in Middle Township, urging his fellow Republicans to continue fighting. Mike Donohue said the party would be back to work as soon as New Year’s Eve developing the next campaign.
Tim Donohue’s replacement on the Middle Township Committee will be newly elected Christopher Leusner, who retired after serving as the Middle Township police chief. Leusner said it was a difficult decision to run for elected office, but after 26 years as a police officer it was time to “close that chapter and open a new one.”
He said his goals for the first year will be to keep Middle Township government on the right path, focusing on maintaining a stable budget. As a former department head, he said, he understands some of the costs related to tracking and retaining talent, saying there has been some turnover in key positions in the township. He said he promoted privatizing the township EMS and joining the county dispatch systems as ways of saving money.
Leusener said he is going to work at improving the quality of life in Middle Township, including tackling the affordable housing issue. He pointed to two affordable housing projects by Conifer he considers to be successes. He said by some reports these housing projects would be a problem for the township and they were not. Finally, Leusner said he would be a proponent of public safety in the township, saying he wanted to make sure the police chief has everything she needs to do the job.
Contact the author, Christopher South, at csouth@cmcherald.com or 609-886-8600, ext. 128.
