Prominent Middle Democrats Spurn Clark Reelection Bid

CAPE MAY COURT HOUSE – Former Township Committee candidates Burgess (Butch) Hamer and Sam Kelly, both Democrats, have joined Middle Township Democrat School Board members Stephanie Thomas, Robert Bakely and Edward Dagney in supporting the candidacy of Independent Township Committee candidate Patricia Taylor. The five prominent Democrats all signed Taylor’s petition, endorsing her efforts to gain a spot on the November general election ballot. Taylor will challenge Mayor Michael Clark, who is seeking a second term on Township Committee.
Fellow school board member Calvin Back, a long-time supporter of Clark, also signed the petition supporting Taylor’s bid to unseat the current Middle Township Mayor.
Sam Kelly, who was the Democrat candidate for Township Committee in 2014, recently penned a letter to the Cape May County Herald endorsing Patricia Taylor’s candidacy.
Taylor is currently a member of the Middle Township School Board. She garnered the 84 signatures needed to make her eligible to appear on the ballot as an independent candidate and submitted her petition to the County Clerk on June 6.
“You would have to ask these leading Democrats why they have turned their backs on the current Mayor,” CapeGOP Chairman Marcus Karavan said. “I think we’re seeing a little bit of buyer’s remorse on the part of Middle Township voters, even these prominent members of Clark’s own party. Perhaps they, like many others, are coming to realize that the Township was better served with Tim Donohue as the Mayor. Tim Donohue and Dan Lockwood were focused on one thing: doing the hard work needed to build a better Township. Mike Clark seems to spend half his time outside of Middle Township, chasing photo ops with Senator Van Drew. The rumor is, Clark plans to run for Freeholder next year. Is he already looking past Middle Township? It’s a fair question for voters to ask.”
Dan Lockwood, who won the GOP primary for Township Committee, said he’s eager to rejoin Donohue on Committee and work with Committeeman Jeff Devico to jump-start the momentum for positive change that has stalled out under Clark’s leadership.
“Politics is an unfortunate distraction; it is not where my heart is. I’m knocking on doors again, running a positive campaign centered on my record and a brighter vision for our town. Working for Middle Township is my passion and that is what I will continue to focus on,” Lockwood said. “But I’m certainly interested to hear from Pat Taylor on where she differs with Mayor Clark and why she and her supporters feel Clark doesn’t deserve a second term on Township Committee.”
Lockwood said his focus is solely on finishing the work he started in Middle Township.
“I’m committed to building on the good work we accomplished from 2012 to 2015. I have no interest in seeking any other political office. I think Tim Donohue and Jeff Devico share that same, long term commitment. It’s not about politics, rewarding your friends and personal advancement. It should always be about doing good work. I’ve never wavered from that commitment.”
Paid for by the Cape May County Regular Republican Organization