By DONALD WITTKOWSKI
Reflecting more diversity in its makeup, the Cape May County Board of Commissioners made political history Thursday by swearing in its first Black member as well as its first disabled member during its annual reorganization meeting.
Melanie Collette, of Middle Township, becomes the first Black female ever to serve on the elected board that oversees Cape May County government.
“The historic nature of my election is not lost on me. I’m very proud of that accomplishment, and I’m proud to be part of our diversity. Together, when we find common ground, we can continue to build a strong Cape May County,” Collette told the audience after she took the oath of office.
In another historic moment, Bob Barr was sworn in as the commission’s first disabled member. Barr, a former Ocean City councilman, was born with cerebral palsy and uses a wheelchair for his mobility.
Barr has been a role model and an advocate for disabled people, including his younger brother, Zack, who also has cerebral palsy.
“It always dawns on me the trail that I’m blazing. There aren’t many disabled people who are in the position that I’m in,” Barr said in an interview after he was sworn in.
“I’m very proud of what I’ve done and I’m very proud of what Melanie has done,” he added.
Barr suspects that the cerebral palsy that runs in his family stems from his late father Jerry Barr’s exposure to the chemical herbicide and defoliant Agent Orange when he served in the Vietnam War.
After he was sworn into office, Barr paid an emotional tribute to his father, a former U.S. Marine.
“Without him, I don’t know if I would have made it,” Barr said.
Also sworn in was Commissioner Will Morey, who won his fifth term in the November election while running on the same Republican ticket as Collette and Barr.
Morey, president and CEO of the Morey’s Piers entertainment and amusement ride complex on the Wildwood Boardwalk said it was an honor for him to be re-elected.
He noted that the primary reason he chose to run again is to help the county create a “sufficient range” of affordable housing for young families and for the workers at local businesses.
“We have a significant growing and complex housing issue in the county, and it will take county engagement, resources, partnerships and a regional approach to begin to reverse the trend,” Morey said of the difficulties of finding affordable homes in the county’s increasingly upscale housing market.
The swearing in ceremony at the Cape May County Technical School also included county Surrogate E. Marie Hayes and Sheriff Bob Nolan taking the oath of office.
Nolan has had a 40-year career in public service and is beginning his third term as sheriff. He said he is proud to lead the men and women of the Sheriff’s Office and recognized their efforts to keep the county safe.
“Oftentimes, they don’t get rewarded enough,” he said.
Nolan, a Republican, ran unopposed in the November election.
“To all of the citizens of Cape May County, I’ve got one promise: I’m going to continue to be true and do what I believe in my heart is right and to serve with a passion to protect and serve the great citizens of the best county in America, Cape May County,” he said.
Hayes, of Ocean City, formerly served on the board of commissioners, but stepped down to become surrogate in 2023 after incumbent Dean Marcolongo resigned to become a Superior Court judge.
Gov. Phil Murphy nominated Hayes to serve as interim surrogate after Marcolongo joined the Superior Court. Hayes, a Republican, followed up by winning election in November against her Democratic challenger to become full-time surrogate.
“I promise you, I will make you proud,” Hayes said in remarks to her supporters and the voters of Cape May County.
Hayes also expressed her gratitude to the Cape May County commissioners for their support during her 10 years on the board.
“I have to tell you that for the last 10 years, being your commissioner, it was my honor,” she said. “To the commission board, I just want to say, thank you so much for giving me the opportunity to sit on that board and to be able to do what we did over those last 10 years. It was certainly, without a doubt, my honor to be with you.”
Hayes said that her former career as a captain with the Cape May County Prosecutor’s Office has prepared her to take on the job of surrogate. A county surrogate’s responsibilities include probating wills, appointing guardians for minors and handling applications for incapacitated people.
Hayes said surrogates help people “in dire times,” including after the death of a family member.
Later during the reorganization meeting, Leonard Desiderio was reappointed director of the Board of Commissioners. Andrew Bulakowski was appointed as the board’s vice director for the first time.
The five-member board is completely Republican, which reflects Cape May County’s status as a GOP stronghold in New Jersey.
A Who’s Who of Cape May County politics attended the swearing in ceremony, led by Republican U.S. Rep. Jeff Van Drew of the Second Congressional District, state Assemblyman Erik Simonsen of the First Legislative District and Cape May County Republican Chairman Michael Donohue.
Barr and Nolan were sworn in by Van Drew, while Michael Donohue, a former Superior Court judge, administered the oath of office to Hayes. Simonsen swore in Morey, while Collette took the oath of office from former Middle Township Mayor Timothy Donohue.
All of the elected officials who were sworn in thanked their spouses, family members, loved ones, friends, political supporters and the voters.
