COURT HOUSE – Supporters packed the “Old Courthouse,” Aug. 28, to witness the swearing in of E. Marie Hayes as the new Cape May County surrogate.
Hayes, who stepped down from the Cape May County Board of County Commissioners to accept the appointment as surrogate, is only the second woman to fill the position, Commissioner Director Leonard Desiderio noted.
Desiderio said Hayes would be “right up there” in ranking with the previous surrogates, adding she would soon be the best surrogate in New Jersey.
County GOP Chairman and retired Superior Court Judge Michael Donohue noted the service of Susan Sheppard, who followed a similar path as Hayes to the Surrogate’s Office; however, Sheppard, an attorney, left to become a Superior Court judge. Donohue added that nearly half of the county surrogates in New Jersey, like Hayes, are not attorneys.
Hayes reached the rank of captain with the Cape May County Prosecutor’s Office before retiring and entering elected office on the then-Board of Chosen Freeholders.
Donohue spoke about Hayes’ sense of compassion, saying that when he was sworn in as a Superior Court judge, Hayes told him, “Remember the victims.”
Hayes, when taking the oath from state Sen. Michael Testa (R-1st), turned to the audience and spoke directly to those in attendance when she recited the line, “Under the authority of the people.”
Judge surrogates, who help facilitate such legal actions as wills, estates, and adoptions, are an elected position and a constitutional office, meaning each county is required to have a surrogate. When an office is vacated, it is up to the governor to appoint a new surrogate, recommended by the state senator.
Donohue said it was a real credit to Hayes that she was appointed by a Democratic governor and confirmed by a majority Democrat Senate, a fact that Hayes said humbled her. Donohue said Hayes could have “stayed a Cape May County commissioner for as long as she wanted to,” but chose a different path.
Hayes thanked everyone she worked with on her way to her current position, including those at the Prosecutor’s Office, freeholders/county commissioners, and her new staff at the Surrogate’s Office.
She noted the presence of John Donnadio, executive director of the New Jersey Association of Counties, saying he helped her out tremendously after first being elected because she was “as green as grass in the summertime.” She thanked all the department heads who worked with her and helped her as a commissioner.
“Thank you all for having faith in me,” Hayes said to the group.
She also thanked her husband of 42 years, Lloyd, and her children and grandchildren for supporting her during her career and public service, saying they were always there for her.
Hayes had previously taken the oath of office in a private ceremony, accompanied by family members, July 6, and has been serving in the role of Cape May County surrogate since then.
Contact the author, Christopher South, at csouth@cmcherald.com or 609-886-8600, ext. 128.
