Cape May County elects first Black woman commissioner

Melanie Collette, of Middle Township, running with incumbent Will Morey, outpaced her running mate and drew close to double the votes of the Democratic challenger, Patricia O’Connor. Vote tallies posted by the county showed her with 16,798 votes, compared with 16,347 for Morey and 8,498 for O’Connor.

“Let it be understood. Let everyone know that the first African-American member of the Legislature from District 1 is a Republican. Let it be known that the first African-American county commissioner in the 300-year history of Cape May County is a Republican,” said Mike Donohue, chairman of the county Republican organization. “Let us once and for all destroy the narrative that the Republican Party is not inclusive.”

Antwan McClellan, a former Ocean City councilman, was the first Black man elected to represent the 1st Legislative District.

On Tuesday, he easily won reelection with strong backing from Cape May County voters, along with his running mate Erik Simonsen and Sen. Mike Testa, topping the ballot this year.

Statewide, Democrats had a good night Tuesday, not only retaining control of the Legislature but adding to their majority in the Assembly, an unusual accomplishment for the party that holds the governor’s mansion in the midterm vote. Democrats took back the 3rd District seat long held by former Senate President Steve Sweeney, who was defeated in 2021 by a relatively unknown Ed Durr. The Associated Press called this year’s race for Democrat John Burzichelli, a former assemblyman.

But in Cape May County, Republicans were ready to celebrate, taking a wide margin in municipal, state and county races where there were challenges, and even wider margins in multiple races where there was no challenge.

Republicans have dominated Cape May County politics for more than a century, and but for a few exceptions in which a lone Democrat won a seat, the party has had a unanimous lock on the five-member governing body.

In comments made at a GOP gathering at the Bellevue in Middle Township on Tuesday, as included in a statement to media, Donohue accused Democrats of checking boxes for diversity, saying Republicans do not categorize people.

“What we have in common is that we are Republicans. We still believe in things like faith, family and country,” he said. “We advance and support good people regardless of their complexion.”

Collette said she has faced criticism for being a Republican, including after appearances on NewsMax television.

“If I told you about the attacks from Democrats that I’ve had to endure for being a Black, female, conservative Republican, you would hardly believe it,” she said. “Well, I’m sorry. Don’t try to put me in a box. I am a Republican because I believe in our country.”

O’Connor did not immediately respond to an emailed request for comment.

Bob Barr, another former Ocean City Council member, drew more than 17,000 votes to remain on the Board of Commissioners for the rest of his term. He was appointed to the board this year after E. Marie Hayes was named county surrogate.

Hayes faced a challenge from Democrat Beverly McCall. Both are from Ocean City. There, too, the GOP candidate far outpaced the Democrat, 16,081 to 7,902, according to unofficial numbers.

Sheriff Bob Nolan faced no challenge in his reelection bid, nor did Republican candidates for North Wildwood City Council.

For the first time in memory, a Republican candidate for Middle Township Committee also ran without opposition. Former police Chief Christopher Leusner will join the three-person governing body in January.

Longtime Middle Township Mayor Tim Donohue, the brother of the county Republican chairman, announced early this year that he would not seek another term, lending his support to Leusner.

In Upper Township, where former township employee Jon K. Grubb challenged Republican incumbent Curtis Corson’s reelection bid as an independent, Corson kept his seat with more than 70% of the vote, with a final tally of 2,392 to 888, according to posted numbers.