Voters returned Ocean City Board of Education President Joe Clark and appointed incumbent Cecelia Gallelli-Keyes to office and elected Michael James in the election on Tuesday.
The race for three three-year seats on the school board was the only local contest in the election. Ocean City’s municipal elections are held in the spring.
Clark topped the polls and the unofficial election night totals reported by the Cape May County Clerk’s Office are as follows:
- Joseph S. Clark Jr. (2,179)
- Cecelia Gallelli-Keyes (2,145)
- Michael Allan James (2,060)
- Dale F. Braun Jr. (1,731)
“I thank the electorate that put me in office tonight,” Clark said on Tuesday night from DiOrio’s Cafe in Somers Point, where he was celebrating with Gallelli-Keyes. “I’m looking forward to the opportunity to work on future contracts and on advancing the district. And Mike (James) is going to be a great asset.”
“I’m very excited,” Gallelli-Keyes said. “I’m glad the voters see how much I love our kids and our town.”
She said she looks forward to working with parents, school staff and taxpayers in her first full term.
Clark was elected to his third term. The city’s purchasing manager, Clark has been instrumental in negotiating contracts between the Board of Education and the Ocean City Education Association (teachers’ union). (See full profile.)
Gallelli-Keyes, a former president of the Ocean City Parent Teacher Association, was appointed to the board in December to complete the final year of Greg Donahue’s term. This was her first election. (See full profile.)
James is a first-time candidate with extensive experience as a financial manager in his career. (See full profile.)
James said he’s excited and thankful to the community for placing their faith in him.
“The board is made up of a lot of great people, and I’m looking forward to working with them,” he said.
The election also saw New Jersey voters return Democrat Cory Booker to the U.S. Senate. But Cape May County voters sided with Republican Jeff Bell, giving him 57.36 percent of their vote, to Booker’s 41.10 percent.
In the most interesting race outside Ocean City, incumbent Republican Frank LoBiondo won his 11th term representing the 2nd District in the U.S. House of Representatives.
LoBiondo defeated Democrat Bill Hughes Jr., an Ocean City native whose father held the same seat for two decades before LoBiondo did. LoBiondo took 67.15 percent of the vote in Cape May County, to Hughes’ 31.92 percent. Within Ocean City, LoBiondo had 2,754 votes to Hughes’ 1,525.
Voter turnout was 48.45 percent in the county.
In uncontested races, Gary G. Schaffer (Republican) was re-elected as Cape May County Sheriff, and Republicans Kristine Gabor and Will Morey were returned to the Board of Chosen Freeholders.
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