Beyel, Sheets Won’t Seek Reelection; Thornton, Sheppard Take Oaths

CREST HAVEN – Freeholder Gerald M. Thornton and Freeholder M. Susan Sheppard began three-year terms, after being sworn at the Tue., Jan. 4 reorganization meeting by U.S. Rep. Frank A. LoBiondo (R-2nd). The event was held at the Cape May County Technical High School.
In a surprise announcement, Freeholder Director Daniel Beyel and former Vice-Director Ralph Sheets Jr. said they will not seek reelection this year.
Beyel was reelected director 3-2, with Thornton and Sheppard casting votes against the post. Leonard Desiderio was elected vice director with Thornton abstaining and Sheppard voting yes along with Beyel, Sheets and Desiderio.
The meeting was delayed by about 15 minutes after Frank McCall, county emergency management director, collapsed, and was given cardio-pulmonary resuscitation by medics. He was attended by several physicians attending the meeting. Sheriff Gary Schaffer said, at meeting’s end, that McCall was reportedly talking. No further report on his condition was available. He was taken to Cape Regional Medical Center by Middle Township Emergency Medical Services personnel.
Thornton served as freeholder from 1976 to 1987 and from 1995 to the present.
This is Sheppard’s first term as freeholder. Sheppard served as 3rd Ward Councilwoman in Ocean City from July 2008 until Jan. 4, 2011. Also, Sheppard is the second woman in Cape May County’s history to be elected to the Board of Chosen Freeholders. The first woman Freeholder was Phyllis Genovese who served on the Board from Jan. 1, 1993 through Dec. 31, 1995.
Freeholders meet the second Tuesday of each month at 7 p.m. and the fourth Tuesday at 4:30 p.m. The public is invited to attend all meetings which are held at the County Administration Building. For meeting dates and agendas visit capemaycountygov.net.
For a complete report, see the Jan. 12 print edition of the Herald.