Cape May County’s four townships, which house 64% of the county’s permanent population, will host fire district elections on Saturday, Feb. 15. A total of 14 fire districts will ask voters to approve a combined $8.9 million in taxes to support their 2025 budgets.
In addition, Middle Township Fire District #4 in Goshen is asking for approval of $1.2 million for the purchase of a new fire truck. Lower Township Fire District #2 in Town Bank also has a public question on the ballot, seeking approval to purchase a new fire truck and equipment for a cost not to exceed $1 million.
Fire district elections give the public votes on fire commissioners, approval or disapproval of annual budgets, including the associated tax levy, and, where applicable, approval or disapproval of ballot questions that usually involve expenditures for equipment. In most cases the amount of the budget and the amount of the tax levy are the same.
The elections are held in February, separate from municipal and state elections, resulting in a small voter turnout. It is an election many voters are unaware of unless something unusual sparks interest.
In 2024 the largest turnout was in Middle Township Fire District #1, Cape May Court House, with 304 individuals voting. The lowest was in Upper Township #1, Strathmere, where 23 individuals cast ballots. In eight of the 14 districts, fewer than 100 people voted.
The vote for fire commissioners is central to the fire elections. Fire commissioners in New Jersey are responsible for fire prevention and suppression in their districts. They make fire safety decisions, create budgets, set standards and provide equipment.
In many cases those running for fire commissioner run unopposed. This year only two of the 14 fire elections have contested races, Middle Township Fire District #2 and Lower Township Fire District #1.
The candidates, budgets with tax levies and ballot questions are as follows:
Dennis Township
Fire District #1, Ocean View/South Seaville – The district has two incumbents running for reelection unopposed, John Berg and Joe Gurdgiel. The budget/levy up for approval is $464,000, up 1.8% from $456,000 in 2024.
Fire District #2, Dennisville – There are two seats up for election, with the incumbents unopposed. Running are Edward Beck and Carla Coffey. The budget and tax levy up for approval is $389,865. That represents an increase of $15,268 (4%) over 2024.
Fire District #3, Belleplain – One candidate, William Hilton Jr., is running for reelection unopposed. The budget and tax levy before voters is $203,537, a $4,277 increase (2%) over 2024.
Lower Township
Fire District #1, Villas – One of the two contested elections this year: Two individuals listed on the district website as inactive life members, Bryan Harron and Carrise Mornick, are running for one seat. The budget up for approval is $665,313, with a tax levy of $657,900. The budget is 1.8% higher than 2024.
Fire District #2, Town Bank – There is one incumbent, James Andrews Jr., running unopposed for the one open seat. The budget for 2025 is set at $1,370,150, with an associated tax levy of $1,067,300, a $10,992 (1%) increase over 2024. The district is also asking the voters to approve the purchase of a new fire truck and equipment (apparatus) for a cost not to exceed $1 million.
Fire District #3, Erma – Incumbent Allyn Devlin is running unopposed for reelection. The budget on the ballot is $1,089,601, with a tax levy of $887,845, a 2% increase over last year.
Middle Township
Fire District #1, Cape May Court House – There are three openings on the commission. Two are for full three-year terms with incumbents Philip Woodrow and Lewis Hand running for reelection unopposed. The other open seat has two years remaining on it, and fire company veteran and onetime Middle Township Mayor Michael Clark is running unopposed for that seat. The budget and tax levy on the ballot is $1,491,006, up $20,000 (1.4%) from 2024, when it stood at $1,471,006.
Fire District #2, Rio Grande – There is a contest for two seats on the commission, with three candidates. Two incumbents, Jean Zimmerman and James G. Neill, are being challenged by Salvatore J. DeSimone. Among other roles with the township, DeSimone has served as the Fire Subcode and Building Official. The proposed budget and tax levy for 2025 is $869,600, up from $812,315 last year, a 7% increase.
Fire District #3, Green Creek – Two open seats on the commission have two incumbents, Edward J. Lord Jr. and Clay Simmons, seeking reelection unopposed. The proposed budget and levy is $594,055, up from $574,875 last year (3.3%).
Fire District #4, Goshen – Two commission incumbents are running unopposed for reelection, Joseph F. Eagan IV and Christina McKenney. Both seats are for a full three-year term. The budget and tax levy up for approval is $284,483. The district is also asking the voters to approve the purchase of a new fire truck at an estimated price of $1,207,000.
Upper Township
Fire District #1, Strathmere – Two incumbents, Karen Mitchell and Joseph Boland, are running unopposed for reelection to full three-year terms. A third seat on the commission is open for a two-year term and has Randall W. Roash running with no opposition. Roash is not currently on the commission but has served as a commissioner in the past. The budget and tax levy being presented to the voters for 2025 is $111,340, which is 3.3% higher than in 2024.
Fire District #2, Tuckahoe – With two three-year seats before the voters, the only candidates are two incumbents, Ronald Mayne and Samuel Repici. The budget before the voters is $652,050 with a tax levy of $578,000, up from $544,300 or 6.2%.
Fire District #3, Marmora – Jeff Pierson is running without opposition for an open three-year seat. There is also a one-year unexpired term open, with Edwin G Kooker Jr. running unopposed. If elected, Kooker would be new to the commission. The budget before the voters is $797,194. In 2024 the budget/levy was $763,500; the one-year increase is 4.4%.
Fire District #4, Seaville – Incumbents Edward Buchanan and Charles Wiel are seeking reelection without opposition. The budget before the voters is $646,246, with a tax levy of $636,966, up 2% over 2024.
Contact the reporter, Vince Conti, at vconti@cmcherald.com.
