DeLanzo Won’t Seek Reelection in Middle Township

COURT HOUSE – Middle Township Committeewoman Susan DeLanzo, who served on the governing body for 12 years, told Middle Township Democratic Club March 6 she will not seek reelection in November.
Her decision leaves the door open for the club to select between Michael Clark of Swainton and Salvatore “Sal” DeSimone of Rio Grande to carry the party banner in the November election for a seat on the Republican majority three-member committee.
Municipal leader James Alexis said petitions for candidates are due April 1. No decision of support for either was made at the meeting.
Addressing the club at the DeVico Center, DeLanzo told party faithful “I wanted to speak with everyone here tonight. I thought long and hard about my reelection and running for township committee, and I prayed a lot. After the race three years ago against Michael Voll, “with all the personal attacks, I said there was no way. That’s not what politics is supposed to be.”
Then control of Township Committee swung to Republicans, “and so many things changed,” she continued.
“In my heart, I still love to serve the people and the township,” DeLanzo said. She still wants to make sure “the township is well served and we maintain the quality of life.” She added that sometimes, “Compromise is the best time; sometimes it’s not what you want.”
“It was a hard decision to make. There were a lot of things that weighed in on my decision. It can’t always be about what you’re doing.” “There are a few things in my life that are changing. I am sorry to say I am not going to run. I thank you for your support,” DeLanzo said. She noted once she made her decision, the “agony” was over. “Once I decided I felt good,” she added.
She will finish out her term, “Working hard for our Democratic candidate. I’m not moving away. I am not retiring either,” she said.
There are “offers coming my way…I want to weigh things out. I’m really happy. When I stood here 12 years ago, I never imagined what I was getting in for. Even in the worst time, it was wonderful to stand and represent you, to carry the Democratic banner, to serve the people in the township.
“Hopefully, Michael Clark will run, I will throw my support behind him. Mike, you have my commitment if your hat is in the ring,” DeLanzo said.
James Pickering Jr., county Democratic chairman thanked DeLanzo for her service to the Democratic Party in Middle Township and county, where she served as a county committee member. He noted her service as a commissioner to the Delaware River and Bay Authority.
Clark delivered a brief autobiography:
He was born and raised in Springfield, Vt. He received his BA in Sports Management from Harding University in Searcy, Ar, and then moved to New Jersey in 1990.
His banking career began in 1993, and he has been employed with Sturdy Savings Bank since 2005 as an assistant vice president and branch manager in the Cape May office.
Clark is a member of Cape May Court House Fire Department where he has volunteered since 1994, and has served as president since 1996. He has served as president of the Cape May County Fireman’s Association for the past three years.
He is also a member of the Cape May Kiwanis Club and Cape May Rotary. He is also a member of the Greater Cape May Chamber of Commerce. Clark attends Cape May Court House Church of Christ where he is song leader and teaches the teen Sunday school class.
He and his wife, Victoria, reside in Swainton and have two daughters.
DeSimone told the club he has been married for 45 years, and retired from “approximately 30 years” of government service including 10 years with the county, then about 10 years with Middle Township as code enforcement officer. He transferred to Avalon for 10 years where he served as construction official.
For 14 years, he was treasurer of the Cape May County Bridge Commission, a bi-partisan entity that operates the Ocean Drive bridges.
He received a 40-year pin for service with Rio Grande Fire Department. He was a county delegate for 25 years, and was “very active with the state fire and building code.”
DeSimone said he did that, “Basically to represent Cape May County so we would have a voice. When you go north, they weren’t aware of what we did.”
Middle Township is “very diverse,” he noted, citing its bay communities, farming areas and city of Rio Grande, which over the last five years has been booming. I think being so diverse is important.” He added it is also important to be a part of government.
He cited his service on the Bridge Commission, working with two Republicans. “Even when you are in the minority, you still have to get the job done. I was appointed by the Republican (freeholder) board four times to serve.” “I am proud of my service on the Bridge Commission. It was very efficient.”
DeSimone holds a certified public manager title from Rutgers University. Additionally, he is a certified flood plain manager, and the first code officer in the county to possess such a title. He has a part-time consulting job in Avalon and Sea Isle City.
“I offered my services free to Middle Township,” he said, but the governing body declined that offer. Through his work in the two resorts, they have jointly saved $1.6 million through his efforts, he said.
He is a six-year fire commissioner with District 2, Middle Township, Rio Grande, where he was recently reelected. DeSimone said, “I do the budget,” and cited the fact it has only increased once in six years, and the district has the lowest fire district tax rate in the municipality.
“I know the codes. I feel I would be very useful on government,” said DeSimone.
Sen. Jeff Van Drew told the club he would support either Clark or DeSimone, as long as it was the club’s choice.
Former Army Sgt. Robert Andrzejczak, who is seeking the Democratic nomination for Assembly, briefly addressed the club.
The Green Creek resident, if elected, would be the municipality’s first resident to be elected to the General Assembly.