EMAIL: Change Of Leadership Coming To Cape May GOP

Yesterday New Jersey Globe broke the news, “Donohue Seeks Return To Cape May GOP Chair Post.” A day later and an email is out stating exactly that. According to the email “CapeGOP Chairman Marcus Karavan announced today that he will not seek another term as the leader of the Cape May County Regular Republican Organization.” Additionally, “As Karavan’s successful tenure ends, former Chairman Michael Donohue, who retired from the NJ Superior Court earlier this year, has submitted a Letter of Intent to seek the CapeGOP Chairman’s position at the reorganization of the CMCRRO to take place in mid-July. Donohue lead the county Republican party from early 2010 through 2015.”

Read the email below:

CHAIRMAN KARAVAN LEAVES GOP ON TOP
Former Chairman Michael Donohue Submits
Letter of Intent

(Cape May County, NJ) June 19, 2020 - After a nearly five-year tenure, CapeGOP Chairman Marcus Karavan announced today that he will not seek another term as the leader of the Cape May County Regular Republican Organization. The county’s Republican party will reorganize shortly after the July 7th NJ Primary Election.
 
Karavan, a lifelong resident of the Wildwoods and a partner in the law firm of Blaney & Karavan, has been active in local politics for over thirty years. He assumed the leadership of the CapeGOP in late 2015, when then-Chairman Michael Donohue resigned the position to become a judge on the Superior Court of New Jersey. Karavan was elected to a full, four-year term as County Chairman in June of 2016.
 
Chairman Karavan’s tenure was highlighted by continuing electoral success, as the Republican party in both Lower Township and Middle Township gained full control of the county’s two largest municipalities. Republicans retained control of all county-wide elected offices and maintained or strengthened their hold on municipal offices in almost every Cape May County town.
 
Karavan’s term was also highlighted by the historical events of the past year, as Republicans “Flipped the First”, sending Senator Michael Testa and Assemblymen Erik Simonsen and Antwan McClellan to Trenton from the First Legislative District. The year ended with Democrat Congressman Jeff Van Drew switching parties to Republican and culminated with President Trump’s historic visit to the Wildwoods Convention Center in late January.
 
“Marcus Karavan has done fantastic work as the CapeGOP Chairman,” Senator Testa said. “His leadership and guidance were a key ingredient in the Testa Team’s win in District One in 2019. Marcus built a strong and winning organization that is not only winning, but stays true to the Conservative Republican principles that are the hallmark of the CapeGOP. As Marc steps away, I wish him only the best. I know I will continue to seek his guidance as a true friend going forward.”
 
As Karavan’s successful tenure ends, former Chairman Michael Donohue, who retired from the NJ Superior Court earlier this year, has submitted a Letter of Intent to seek the CapeGOP Chairman’s position at the reorganization of the CMCRRO to take place in mid-July. Donohue lead the county Republican party from early 2010 through 2015.
 
Senator Testa expressed confidence in Donohue’s proven leadership.
 
“Mike Donohue has also been a great friend,” Senator Testa said. “In my role as Cumberland County GOP Chairman, I’ve worked side by side with Chairman Donohue in some tough electoral battles. His proven political acumen and assertive campaign style have served our candidates well. It is testament to the character of Chairman Karavan and the mutual respect shared by both of the leaders, that the CapeGOP will move forward stronger than ever and united in its purpose to foster the American ideals that resonated so strongly with Cape May County voters.”
 
Karavan believes that the future of the CapeGOP is bright.
 
“I was honored to be chosen to assume the Chairmanship in 2015 and I’m very proud of the work our team accomplished the past five years,” Karavan said. “We have built on our past record of success and carried our organization to even greater heights. I have all confidence, as I pass the baton of leadership forward, that the CapeGOP will be in good hands, as we move towards crucial election cycles in both 2020 and 2021. I remain committed to the ongoing success of the CapeGOP.”

PRESS RELEASE: Race-Baiting Norcross Super PAC Mailer Invades LD-1 Campaign

The Republican candidates in LD1, Mike Testa for state Senate and Antwan McClellan and Erik Simonsen for Assembly hit back at a mailer sent by a Democratic PAC. Their press release follows:

September 16, 2019, First Legislative District – Republicans slammed a negative attack mailer against GOP Assembly candidate and Ocean City Councilman Antwan McClellan today, alleging the shadowy Super PAC funded by allies of George Norcross darkened and distorted McClellan’s photo, placed it inside a yellow circle reminiscent of Aunt Jemima syrup branding and used racially-charged language in a desperate attempt to hang on to a district that is slipping away. 

The Republicans demanded Democrat incumbents Bob Andrzejczak, Bruce Land, Matt Milam, and Cape May County Democrat Chairman Brendan Sciarra to immediately disavow the mailing, and call on the Norcross-linked General Majority PAC to cease and desist from spending in support of their candidacies.

“The Democratic party claims to be the party of inclusion; however, the moment a person of color like me disagrees with their narrative, they launch an ad hominem attack, whip out their best ‘Aunt Jemima’ photograph and purposefully darken my complexion in order to suppress dissent,” said McClellan.  “This attack ad launched against me isn’t just tone deaf, it’s totally deaf to the economic struggles that faced all the people of South Jersey in the recent trying economic times. I am a Republican because we support job creation and real opportunity not just giveaway programs. I know about that struggle firsthand and promise to diligently represent South Jersey to increase economic opportunities.”

“The Cape May County GOP has worked hard to reach out to the African-American community and Antwan is without a doubt one of our brightest stars.  To see him subjected to these kinds of racist attacks is extremely distressing,” said Cape GOP Chairman Marcus Karavan. “Unfortunately, these are the kinds of attacks you would expect from District 1 Democrats, who, to my recollection, have never run a woman or a person of color for the state legislature.”

“People that buy into this race-baiting narrative being advanced by the Democrats are just asking for more of the same lackluster representation and cronyism,” said Erik Simonsen.  “I suggest that everyone, not just people of color, look closely into the thinking that spawned this attack ad and ask themselves if this is the representation they want.

“It’s no surprise that the very first mailer sent out by the Democrats was a negative attack. They can’t defend their party’s radical liberal agenda and the insane policies of Phil Murphy, so they turn to personal smears,” said Senate candidate Mike Testa, Jr. “But to see Antwan depicted in this way is beyond offensive. We are not going to sit by and let the Democrats hide from this one. The days of Bob Andrzejczak and running mates dutifully staying silent, while George Norcross’ shady PAC – funded by companies who got suspect tax breaks – does their dirty work, are over.”