Reorganizations, New Sheriff Will Take Oath Jan. 2

COURT HOUSE — With the New Year comes reorganization ceremonies in some municipalities and for the Board of Chosen Freeholders.
Sheriff Gary Schaffer of Ocean City will begin his first three-year term as Cape May County’s top law enforcement official on Jan. 2. He will assume the post previously held by John Callinan, a retired Superior Court judge, who chose not to seek re-election.
Schaffer received 27,164 votes to Democrat George Hallett’s 17,903.
At the county freeholders’ Jan. 2 reorganization at 5 p.m. in the Cape May County Technical High School gymnasium, 188 Crest Haven Road, Republicans Director Daniel Beyel and Vice Director Ralph E. Sheets Jr. will take oaths that will return them to the board. Both were unopposed in the general election, and received 30,482 and 30,392 votes, respectively.
Also on Jan. 2 at 5 p.m., Middle Township Committee will reorganize in Township Hall, 33 Mechanic St., Court House.
F. Nathan Doughty will return to office on the three-member, all Democrat governing body. Doughty received 4,107 votes to Republican challenger’s 4,019.
On Jan. 2 at 6:30 p.m. at Upper Township Municipal Hall, 21200 Tuckahoe Road, Petersburg, Republican Frank E. Conrad will return to the five-member township committee. In the general election, Conrad received 3,985 votes to Democrat Robert Vicario’s 2,383.
On Jan. 3 at 10 a.m., Dennis Township Committee will reorganize in Township Hall, 571 Petersburg Road, Dennisville.
At that time, Democrats Dennis Crippen and Brian O’Connor will take seats on the five-member governing body. They received 1,818 and 1,924 votes respectively. Republican Eugene Glembocki got 1,314 votes.
On Jan. 4 at 2 p.m. in Borough Hall, 501 Washington Ave., Woodbine Borough Council will watch as oaths are administered to incumbents Clarence E. Ryan Jr., who received 434 votes, and Anthony L. Saduk Sr., who received 392 votes.
On Jan. 5 at 6 p.m., Lower Township Council will reorganize its mayor and four council members at Municipal Hall, 2600 Bayshore Road, Villas. Installed will be a mayor and councilmember at large.
Independent Mike Beck, a former councilman, will become mayor and his running mate, Kevin Lare will take the seat as councilman-at-large.
Beck received 4,484 votes. Republican Glenn Douglass received 3,559, and Democrat S. Harvey Roach tallied 2,471.
Lare received 3,996 votes while Democrat Peter Smith got 2,506 and Republican Robert Nolan got 3,642.
On Jan. 6 at 7 p.m., Stone Harbor Borough Council reorganization will take place at Borough Hall, 9508 Second Ave. It is council’s sole evening meeting; the others take place at 4:30 p.m.
At that time, Republican Mayor Suzanne Walters will return as chief executive, having run unopposed. She received 469 votes.
New council members, Republicans Thomas E. Cope Jr., and Joanne Vaul, who received 435 and 461 votes, respectively, and who also ran unopposed, will take their seats on the six-member governing body.
On Jan. 6 at 6 p.m., North Wildwood City Council will reorganize in City Hall, 901 Atlantic Ave.
All incumbents will return, since there were no challengers in the election.
In Ward 1, J. Richard Ogen will return to his seat on the governing body, having received 770 votes, and Robert McCullion will return with 837 votes.
In Ward 2, Kellyann Tolomeo will return having received 663 votes.