Candidates File in Cape May

CAPE MAY – Clarence “Chuck” Lear and Patricia “Tricia” Hendricks submitted petitions to Cape May City Clerk Louise Cummiskey July 12. That action sets up Lear’s run against incumbent Mayor Edward Mahaney, and Hendricks for a council seat, in the Nov. 8 municipal election.  
Lear Files
Lear retired in January after a 37-year career in the city’s police department.  The retirement was part of a settlement agreement with the city over disciplinary charges regarding Lear’s use of what the city termed compensatory time. 
The time sheet issue also led to action by the city council to return Robert Sheehan to his previous rank of captain after he served a probationary year as police chief.
The controversy has raged in the city since that council action in March 2015.  In many ways, Lear’s candidacy sets up a public referendum on the city’s handling of the issue.
Lear has been critical of City Manager Bruce MacLeod’s handling of matters related to the police department and claims that his actions, and the support of a majority of council, have led to wasteful spending on legal expenses.
In a release, Lear stated, “We have spent some money here on pointless issues.”
Lear said he wants “to restore city government to the manager-council form of government the voters selected.” Mahaney’s critics claim that he has overstepped his proper role in city affairs.
Hendricks Files
Patricia “Tricia” Hendricks also submitted her paperwork to run as a candidate for city council. The seat currently occupied by Terri Swain is up this year. There is no word on whether or not Swain will seek reelection.
Hendricks said her candidacy is a “natural extension of her long commitment to public service.” Active in community groups, Hendricks says she is “deeply interested in making Cape May a better place to live, work, raise a family, vacation or retire.”