Middle Makes History with Female Mayor, GOP Committeeman

COURT HOUSE – Middle Township’s governing body made history at its 2010 reorganization meeting Tuesday (Jan. 5) evening when it sat its first elected Republican committeeman in almost half a century and named its first ever female mayor.
Daniel Lockwood became the first GOP candidate to win a township committee seat since James Lykins won in the early 1960s. He defeated incumbent Democrat Steve Barry and Independent Burgess “Butch” Hamer.
In front of a crowd of well over 100 at Township Hall, Cape May County Clerk Rita Fulginiti administered Lockwood’s oath of office.
Lockwood thanked his family and friends for their ongoing support.
“I’ve been especially lucky to be surrounded by great women my entire life,” Lockwood said.
He acknowledged the challenges Middle Township would be facing in the coming year due to ongoing budgetary constraints.
“I’m up to the challenge and want to make good decisions for the people of this township,” Lockwood said.
“If we’re not moving forward, we’re falling behind.”
After Lockwood was sworn in, Susan DeLanzo and F. Nathan Doughty swapped titles.
Doughty relinquished the mayor’s office by nominating Susan DeLanzo to that post. Doughty, in turn, was named deputy mayor. He was sworn in by state Sen. Jeff Van Drew (D-1st).
Van Drew noted that Doughty looked like he was smiling with the weight of the mayor’s office off his shoulders.
“I know my wife is happy,” Doughty said, noting that he would have more time to focus on the Recreation and Public Works departments, for which he will have oversight.
DeLanzo, who owns Atkinson’s Tavern with her family, noted that she had been, as opposed to Lockwood, “blessed with a lot of good men in my life.”
DeLanzo told Lockwood she was looking forward to working with him for the people of Middle Township. She also thanked Doughty for representing the township as mayor over the years.
“Nate has been a wonderful mayor,” she noted. “He has a great love for this community…he’s given us a strong sense of history…he’s well liked and well respected throughout the area…we’ve been lucky to have him as mayor.”
DeLanzo also thanked the citizens of the township for their love of the community.
“It is such a wonderful place to live,” she said. “I never dreamed that I’d be lucky enough to serve this community in this way.”
When she joined the governing body eight years ago, she said her main focus would be on quality of life, taxes and ensuring pride in public officials.
“They are the same goals I have today,” she said along with goals of finishing the township master plan and working hard on the budget.
She said she was proud of her achievements and has learned from her mistakes.
“I’m ready to work hard for you and look forward to your guidance,” she said.
DeLanzo’s oath of office was administered by Township Clerk Kimberly Tomkinson, who was having a difficult time getting everybody’s title straight during the roll calls when the panel voted on resolutions. Tomkinson has been calling the same three names for many months.
“Committeeman Barry, Committeewoman DeLanzo, Mayor Doughty,” she would say 20 to 40 times during each meeting.
At Tuesday’s meeting, Tomkinson repeatedly called Doughty the mayor and DeLanzo a committeewoman and had a hard time getting Lockwood’s name at all. One time she said, much to the amusement of the standing-room-only crowd, “Committeemember DeLockwood.”
“You know it’s going to take me a while right,” Tomkinson said with a smile.