GOP Taps Karavan as Interim Chair; Donohue Takes New Post on Team

COURT HOUSE – Municipal Republican leaders of Cape May County unanimously voted Jan. 3 to appoint Wildwood attorney Marcus Karavan as interim leader of the Cape May County Regular Republican Organization, in a conference call, according to a release.
Karavan will fill the remainder of Chairman Michael Donohue’s term, which expires one week after the June 2016 Primary Elections.
Donohue, who led the party from 2010-2015, resigned after his recent Senate confirmation to the New Jersey Superior Court. His resignation triggered the appointment of Assistant Chairwoman Kristine Gabor as acting leader.
Under the organization’s bylaws, Gabor commenced a 10-day period for interested candidates to submit letters of intent for the interim chairman position.
That window expired at 5 p.m Dec. 30 with Karavan emerging as the sole candidate for the position, without challenge.
“I want to thank our leadership for their united support of this open process,” Gabor stated. “Mike Donohue’s leadership and positive energy will be hard to replace. I offer interim leader Karavan my full support and look forward to returning to my position as assistant chair.”
Karavan will lead “a united and energized party into a most-important 2016 election cycle,” the release stated.
Key races will be contested at the local, county and national level in this presidential election year. The county Republican Party will reorganize, naming a leader to a new four-year term, following the June primary election.
“I’m truly humbled by the overwhelming support I have received from our leadership, elected officials and county committee members,” Karavan stated. “I’m excited to lead a united and focused CapeGOP team into the New Year. I look forward to building and expanding on Mike Donohue’s legacy of an open and inclusive party organization. We remain committed to perpetuating the constitutional principles of our nation’s founders and fighting for the conservative ideals of small government, equal opportunity and personal responsibility.
“All who share these values and commitments are welcome and encouraged to get involved in the CapeGOP,” he concluded.
New Party Officials
Karavan moved quickly to bolster the Cape May County Regular Republican Organization’s leadership Jan. 3, naming Middle Township Mayor Timothy Donohue to the newly-created position of second vice chairman.
First Vice Chair Kristine Gabor will remain as the Cape GOP’s second in command.
“Michael’s leadership and energy will be hard to replace,” Karavan stated. “By adding Tim Donohue as our second vice chair, we broaden our leadership team and can better share the many responsibilities of the Cape GOP as we move into the critical 2016 election cycle.”
Per the recent change in the organization’s bylaws, First Vice Chair Gabor, a freeholder from Upper Township, will be responsible for assisting the chairman with event planning and execution; scheduling; maintenance of electronic media and liaison with elected officials.
Donohue, in his second term on Middle Township’s governing body, will be responsible for assisting the chairman with campaigns; public information; event logistics and liaison with municipal leaders.
“Our leadership team is committed to building on the foundation of positive change laid under Michael’s leadership in the last five years,” Karavan added. “What some thought might be a crisis for our organization has been turn into an opportunity to build an even more unified and powerful GOP political force, reenergized as we move into a presidential election year.”