Lockwood Wins; Barry Transitions; Hamer Plans Next Run

COURT HOUSE — Christmas came on Nov. 4 for Republicans in Middle Township this year as the GOP’s candidate won a seat on the township’s governing body for the first time in over 40 years.
Dan Lockwood’s victory came thanks, in no small part, to third party candidate Burgess “Butch” Hamer, who likely pulled more votes from the Democratic incumbent Steve Barry than from Lockwood.
The unofficial final tally:
• Lockwood – 2,697
• Barry – 1,959
• Hamer – 1,202
Lockwood became the first Republican elected to Middle Township Committee since James Lykins won in the early 1960s although there have been committee members who switched from the Democratic Party to the GOP while in office — Patricia Peterson in the 1980s and former Mayor Mike Voll in the late 1990s.
“It’s nice to know that hard work and dedication from me and my supporters has paid off,” Lockwood told the Herald.
Barry congratulated Lockwood on the victory and assured him “a smooth hand-off of responsibilities.”
Hamer too congratulated the victor. He visited the Republican headquarters after the polls closed and wished Lockwood the best.
“But I told Dan that I’d be watching him now,” Hamer said.
Lockwood said he welcomed the high expectations and looked forward to the challenge.
Hamer told the Herald that both he and Lockwood made history in this election.
“Dan was the first Republican elected here in decades,” Hamer said. “And I received the most votes ever for an independent candidate.”
In 1980, independent candidate Carl Baker garnered 442 votes and in 2007 independent Eileen Fausey received 877.
Hamer admits that he split the vote and believes he likely cost Barry the election.
“That wasn’t my goal though. I’m not for or against either party,” Hamer said. “I wanted to run so I could serve the people of Middle Township. I thank the Lord for the opportunity to run.”
“It is not possible to say how the past would have been different if key factors had been different,” Barry said when asked if he thought Hamer had cost him the election. “I did not understand the purpose of the third party campaign.”
Lockwood said he still would have won the election if Hamer wasn’t involved.
“But my margin of victory wouldn’t have been as big,” he said. “Middle Township voters were looking for a change.”
What’s next for Lockwood?
“I look forward to refocusing my energy from the campaign to the job of a committeeman,” he said. “I’ll be adding another viewpoint to decisions made in the township. I’m going to keep my eyes and ears open and my mouth shut. Try to learn the job and make good common sense decisions. Make improvements where I can.”
Lockwood said he’d be relying on the governing body and department heads on helping him get up to speed. He will also seek advice from his friend Frank Conrad who serves as a committeeman in Upper Township.
Lockwood said he wasn’t sure what his departmental responsibilities were going to be yet, but suggested the township would benefit by creating defined departmental responsibilities.
“It would increase transparency and the efficiency of how the township is governed its residents,” Lockwood said.
Barry, managing partner of a Wildwood law firm, has no specific plans for the future.
“I have no present plan to run for anything, although I do enjoy campaigning and working with the people in government,” Barry said when asked what his plans were. “My gardening, my fishing, my boating and lots of other things have been neglected over the past few years so I will try to catch up.”
As for Hamer, he said he’s planning to run again next year because he thinks more change is needed. He said he was tired of the cronyism and “good-old-boy syndrome” that’s defined Middle Township politics for decades. Everyone is tired of “business as usual,” he said.
He said that it’s sad that young people can’t find local jobs or afford to buy homes in the township. He noted that local businesses such as Block Buster, Dunkin Donuts, Fashion Bug and Wendy’s have closed recently.
“With those closures, jobs were lost and local families were affected,” Hamer said. “I think the township should seek to actively bring new industry to this community.”
He wants to do more for the township’s senior citizens, thinks public works employees deserve better pay and that taxes are too high. He thinks people should be part of the decision-making process because they would feel better about the decisions that are made.
Hamer said he enjoyed running for committee because he got to go door-to-door talking to the people and worked so closely with his 83-year-old mother Bernice Shuler Brunson.
“And when I run next year, she’ll help me again,” he said. “We’re doing this for the people of our community.”
With Hamer planning to run again next year and the GOP likely putting forth its best candidate, Democratic incumbent Deputy Mayor Susan DeLanzo may face a difficult race next November.
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Contact Hart at (609) 886-8600 Ext 35 or at: jhart@cmcherald.com