On Ballot 29 Times, Never Had a Loss

MARMORA — Had life not taken a different turn, it’s possible Daniel Beyel might have had the letters P.E. after his name and been county engineer instead of freeholder director. Beyel and Freeholder Ralph Sheets chose not to seek reelection this year, thus both have just two freeholders meetings to attend.
Beyel, 63, told the Herald on Nov. 29, ironically, he had, “Thirty-seven years in some elected office. If you add all the times I’ve been on the ballot in primary and general elections, it was 29 times. I won 29 times with no losses. It’s a good way to go.”
Since Beyel has presided over a freeholder board the county has:
* Opened a Cape May County branch campus of Atlantic Cape Community College.
* Built and operated an animal shelter and adoption center.
* Expanded the Technical High School, which is a full-time facility.
Other milestones while he was on the board:
* Crest Haven Nursing and Rehabilitation Center was renovated and expanded.
* Opened a Veterans’ Cemetery.
* Sold its former Social Services Building (former Rio Bowling Lanes in Rio Grande) and built a new Social Services building in that community.
A graduate of Drexel University in 1971 with a degree in Business Administration with a major in accounting, and in 1973 with a Master of Business Administration, Beyel originally set his heart on becoming a civil engineer. In his second year of college, his father passed away. Although he stayed in college, he switched to a business track. To this day, engineering fascinates him.
Since 1968, he has been president of Boulevard Super Liquors on Roosevelt Boulevard, here, which his family has owned since 1938.
The Beesley’s Point resident, who for decades has sported a beard, began his public service in 1975 when he sought a seat on the Board of Fire Commissioners in Marmora. Successful, he became treasurer.
Then, two Upper Township Republican clubs courted him, desirous that he be their candidate for township committee. He opted for one in 1977, and ran for his first political seat. His first successful political election, Beyel was a member of Upper Township Committee for four terms, 1978-89. He was deputy mayor from 1982-83, and served as mayor from 1984-87.
That’s when Beyel set his eyes on bigger things: county government.
Eyes on highways, perhaps driven by some of that engineering desire, Beyel was named chair of the N.J. Expressway Authority on May 23, 1985. He also served that body as treasurer.
He serves, too, as chair of the South Jersey Transportation Planning Organization, which channels federal and state funds to regional transit projects.
Through the ensuing decades, a parade of names marched through county Republican circles, as did party chairmen: Harry Gilbert, Phil Matalucci, Gerard Desiderio, David Von Savage, Michael Donohue. Beyel also shared that title in June 1989, the same year Democrats selected Michael Voll as their party chair.
In August 1989, Beyel, then 41, decided not to seek reelection in Upper Township. Running for his seat was Andrew McCrosson.
Beyel’s tenure heading the GOP in Cape May County lasted until May 1990, when he stepped down from the post to seek reelection.
In December 1989, Phyllis Genovese decided to seek election as the county’s first female freeholder. She was successful. Freeholder Herbert “Chuck” Frederick stated he would not seek reelection that same month.
In January 1990, Wildwood Mayor Ralph Sheets made his intention known to seek the GOP party nod for freeholder. In March of that year, the committee members selected Beyel and Sheets as freeholder candidates and Ocean City Police Officer James Plousis as sheriff candidate. Plousis went on to become U.S. Marshal for New Jersey. He is presently chairman of the N.J. State Parole Board.
Beyel’s father, Samuel, and grandmother, Sarah, originated Boulevard Liquor in a parcel west of Garden State Parkway, on Roosevelt Boulevard, where Ocean City Home Bank is located. Seems the state Highway Authority originally had plans to put the Garden State Parkway there.
Not wanting their business to be jeopardized, the Beyels bought a parcel east of the planned roadway, site of the present store. Then, they were informed the authority changed its mind.
“By that time, they had already made arrangements to move,” said Beyel.
The family, originally from New York City, was in the piano moving business, and was among the first to use motorized vehicles transporting the weighty musical instruments.
Daniel, he explained, was the name given first sons by his father and his brothers, all named Daniel after their grandfather.
Beyel proudly pointed to the county’s tax rate which, since 1988, decreased 10 times, remained the same nine times, and increased four times. In 1988, the rate was 44 cents per $100 of assessed value. This year it is 18 cents per $100.
He noted the equalized assessed valuation in 1988 was $8.5 billion, in 2011 it is $51.5 billion, an increase of $42.9 billion, a 600 percent increase.
“The wealth of land value has translated back to lower tax rates,” said Beyel. Over two decades, the size of county government remained the same, as the need stayed constant.
In time, need lessened, as in the county Youth Shelter, which had a staff although, at times, there were fewer clients. As a result, outside organizations were hired to provide needed services at lower costs.
Beyel noted that, for three years, when the county experienced a budget surplus, the board elected to return the bounty. It was known as the Municipal Assistance Program, and the funds were used to benefit year-round residents by upgrading facilities decided by local governing bodies.
Among those upgrades was the Veterans Plaza on 21st Street in Avalon, recreation areas in Ocean City and Sea Isle City, a seawall in North Wildwood, bike path in Middle Township, Oceanside Park in Wildwood Crest and recreation field in Lower Township.
There were quite a few things that would not have come as quickly as they did had not the program been undertaken, said Beyel.
He noted County Engineer Dale Foster was recently successful in securing $15 million this year for road and bridge projects. The most ever gotten from grants was $5 million, he said. He credited Foster for doing preparation so that the projects were “shovel ready” which helped win the funds.
Of the Beesley’s Point Bridge on Route 9, a political liability since the $1 purchase, when it was subsequently learned it would take over $20 million to rehabiliate, Beyel said “The final outcome will be to demolish it.” The state “gave us a strategy…that was not true.”
A new southbound Garden State Parkway Bridge, just east of the closed Route 9 span, will afford three lanes in both directions when completed.
When the final gavel falls, and Beyel has no title before his name, what does he plan?
Perhaps some odd jobs around the house, maybe time to pursue his hobbies of duck hunting and saltwater fishing, which “slowed down” as he did the public’s business and his children were in sports and academics.
The Beyels may travel to “warmer areas, not north, maybe the Caribbean or Florida,” he said.
“I’m glad I had the opportunity to serve. I thank the voters for giving the opportunity,” Beyel concluded.
Contact Campbell at (609) 886-8600 Ext 28 or at: al.c@cmcherald.com