Exclusive: Karavan takes over for Donohue in Cape May

Wildwood, New Jersey

By Matt Rooney | The Save Jersey Blog

The Cape May GOP is starting 2016 with a new chairman, Save Jerseyans.

Wildwood Attorney Marcus Karavan was unanimously elected ‘Interim Leader’ of the Cape May County Regular Republican Organization by way of a committee leader conference call on Sunday, January 3rd. 

Karavan, who Save Jersey previously reported as front runner for the job, will now fill the remainder of the term of former Chairman Michael Donohue who became a Superior Court judge in December after serving as party leader since 2010.

Wildwood, New Jersey
Wildwood, New Jersey

Donohue’s unexpired term tolls one week after the upcoming June 2016 Primary Elections. Until today, Assistant Chairwoman Kristine Gabor served as Acting Leader in the wake of the shake-up. When Donohue resigned, organization bylaws triggered a ten day period running through 5 p.m. on December 30th for interested parties to declare their intentions.

Karavan was reportedly the only candidate who submitted a letter of intent. 

The Cape May GOP leadership also seized the opportunity to amend its bylaws to implement a new leadership structure. Gabor, a Cape May County Freeholder from Upper Township and long-time Donohue ally, will continue in her new capacity as First Vice Chair. Tim Donohue, a committeeman and former mayor in Middle Township as well as the former chairman’s brother, is assuming the role of Second Vice Chair. 

“Our leadership team is committed to building on the foundation of positive change laid under Michael’s leadership in the last five years,” Karavan said in an official statement. “What some thought might be a crisis for our organization has been turn into an opportunity to build an even more unified and powerful GOP political force, reenergized as we move into a presidential election year.”

Karavan faces the immediate challenge of working with Cumberland County Republicans to field a 2017 legislative slate after Assemblyman Sam Fiocchi‘s November defeat.

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Matt Rooney
About Matt Rooney 8693 Articles
MATT ROONEY is SaveJersey.com's founder and editor-in-chief, a practicing New Jersey attorney, and the host of 'The Matt Rooney Show' on 1210 WPHT every Sunday evening from 7-10PM EST.

3 Comments

  1. The post of Interim fourth junior second assistant party leader in the third degree is still awaiting a petition. Failing that, county GOP leaders will slaughter goat and pray for leadership.

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