Middle GOP Leader Asks ‘When Is Loyalty to Friends a Bad Thing?’

To The Editor:
With recent developments in the county organization and the upcoming primary in June, I would like the leaders of the Cape May County Regular Republican Organization to know where I stand as a leader in Middle Township. Through the efforts of the chairman of the CMCRRO, he has dictated which county committee candidates that will be entitled to appear on the ballot under the “Cape May County Regular Republican Organization” slogan.
I believe that according to N.J.S.A 19:34 the determination has always been left up to the local county committee members with the chairman having no say in the designation of candidates under the slogan. The chairman told me “It’s not happening this time,” because you “signed the petition for Mr. Thornton,” thus removing me from the CMCRRO slogan.
The chairman has also taken it upon himself to remove an assistant leader and several dedicated committee people from the county column.
I want everyone to know that five years ago when I moved from Ocean City to Middle Township, I saw the need to build the Republican Organization and improve its membership. We worked hard to back anyone who would be interested in running for township seats. We supported Matt Buesing and then Dan Lockwood. As Lockwood’s campaign manager, we finally had a victory…the first Republican in almost 50 years to win a seat in Middle Township.
These challenges will not deter our committee in Middle. We will re-energize and rebuild after the primary. One only has to ask, “When is independent thinking, loyalty to friends and integrity a bad thing?
EDWARD TAYLOR
Court House
(ED NOTE: Taylor is Middle Township Republican leader.