The Feb. 15 fire district elections saw incumbents win most races unopposed, with half the races having a turnout of fewer than 100 voters.
Two contested races were resolved; no budgets and tax levies were rejected by the voters, who added a total of $10 million to the combined tax levies of the four townships.
Two requests for voter approval of new fire trucks resulted in one’s being rejected by the voters.
The turnout across all 14 separate elections resulted in about 3,500 total votes cast, of which only 20% were cast in person at designated firehouses. At one fire district, there were 19 total ballots cast, with only six cast by individuals who showed at the firehouse to vote in person.
The vote total was higher than that of the fire district elections in 2024, but characteristic of the low turnout the February elections historically draw.
Fire election ballots always carry two issues for voter consideration: the need to elect fire commissioners for the district, usually to three-year terms, and to approve or reject the annual budget and that portion of the budget, often 100%, that is supported with a property tax levy.
A third item on the ballot when necessary is a request for capital spending on new fire trucks and/or equipment to support the fire company that is associated with the commission board and that mans the fire station and responds to calls for service.
In all of the fire districts the company is volunteer. The commissioners are responsible for fire prevention and suppression in their districts. They make fire safety decisions, create budgets, set standards, provide equipment and manage the relationship to the volunteer fire company.
The results of the votes for candidates, budgets and tax levies and ballot questions are as follows:
Dennis Township
Fire District #1, Ocean View/South Seaville – Two incumbents ran unopposed and won reelection easily. John Berg (62 votes) and Joe Gurdgiel (57 votes) were elected and the budget/tax levy was approved at $464,000.
Fire District #2, Dennisville – Two incumbents, Edward Beck (49 votes) and Carla Coffey (46 votes) won reelection unopposed. Voters also approved a budget and tax levy of $389,865.
Fire District #3, Belleplain – With a single seat open, William Hilton, Jr., won reelection unopposed (27 votes). Voters also approved the budget and tax levy of $203,537.
Lower Township
Fire District #1, Villas – This district had a contested race, with two candidates for one seat. Bryan Harron (76 votes) took the post, defeating Carrise Mornick (71 votes). Both Harron and Mornick are listed on the fire company’s website as “inactive life members.” The budget of $665,313 with an associated tax levy of $657,900 was also approved by the voters.
Fire District #2, Town Bank – Incumbent James Andrews, Jr., was reelected (296 votes) in a race where he ran unopposed. Almost 90% of the votes in the election were mail-in. A budget of $1,370,150 with a tax levy of $1,067,300 was approved. Voters also authorized the commissioners to purchase a new fire truck and equipment for a cost not to exceed $1 million.
Fire District #3, Erma – Incumbent Allyn Devlin won his race for another term (86 votes) while running unopposed. Two-thirds of the voters who cast votes on the ballot question approved the district budget of $1,089,601 with its tax levy of $877,845.
Middle Township
Fire District #1, Cape May Court House – This district had the best turnout of the day with a total of 549 ballots cast on the budget question. The district had three openings on the board. Two were for standard three-year terms where incumbents Philip Woodrow (418 votes) and Lewis Hand (422 votes) won unopposed. The third seat was to fill a two-year term. Here fire company veteran and one-time Middle Township mayor Michael Clark (461 votes) won. In a more narrow tally, voters approved a budget and tax levy of $1,491,006. There the vote was 304 to 245.
Fire District #2, Rio Grande – The district had three candidates seeking two seats on the commission board. The two incumbents, Jean Zimmerman (155 votes) and James Neill (149 votes), beat out a challenge from Salvatore DeSimone (106 votes). The budget and tax levy of $869,600 was approved.
Fire District #3, Green Creek – Two open seats on the commission board were won by two incumbents who ran unopposed, Edward Lord, Jr., (67 votes) and Clay Simmons (70 votes). The budget and levy of $594,055 was approved.
Fire District #4, Goshen – Two board incumbents ran unopposed and won new terms, Joseph F. Eagan IV (78 votes) and Christina McKenney (78 votes). The 2025 budget and tax levy of $284,483 was also approved by the voters. Where the district did not fare well was in the results of the additional ballot question. Here in a 64 to 32 vote, district residents rejected the request of the district for a new fire truck in an amount not to exceed $1.2 million.
Upper Township
Fire District #1, Strathmere – This district saw only 19 votes cast with only six coming from in-person voting. Two incumbents won new three-year terms, Karen Mitchall (17 votes) and Joseph Boland (16 votes). A third seat on the board was for a reduced two-year term and was won by a past commissioner, Randall W. Roash (19 votes). Each candidate ran unopposed. The budget and tax levy of $111,340 was approved.
Fire District #2, Tuckahoe – Two incumbents won the two available seats unopposed. Ronald Mayne (49 votes) and Samuel Repici (52 votes). The budget before the voters was for $652,050 with a tax levy of $578,000. The voters approved it 47 to 12.
Fire District #3, Marmora – Incumbent Jeff Pierson (151 votes) won reelection to the one open three-year term seat on the commission. A one-year unexpired term seat was won by Edwin Kooker, Jr. (154 votes). The budget and levy of $787,194 was passed by the voters.
Fire District #4, Seaville – Incumbents running unopposed won the two available seats, Edward Buchanan (104 votes) and Charles Wiel (98 votes). The budget of $646,246 with a levy of $636,966 was approved.
