Republicans win in Ocean City

Written by Claire Lowe Wednesday, November 07, 2012 12:05 pm

OCEAN CITY – As the polls closed on Tuesday, Nov. 6 across the nation, and election results slowly trickled in, it became clear that President Barack Obama, Democrat, would serve another four years. But in Cape May County, those numbers were very different, as Obama took only 44.8 percent of the vote, compared to Republican challenger Mitt Romney’s 53.7 percent. In Ocean City, Romney also won with 3,792 votes to 2,641 votes for Obama.

This partisan trend continued in the regional races, as well.

New Jersey’s US Senate race was won by incumbent Democrat Sen. Bob Menendez, but in Cape May County, challenger Republican Joe Kyrillos took the lead with 51.85 percent, or 22,013 votes to Menendez’s 46.25 percent or 19,634 votes. In Ocean City, Kyrillos also won 3,348-2,459.

The race for a seat in the House of Representatives between incumbent Republican Rep. Frank LoBiondo and hometown challenger Cassandra Shober, Democrat, saw LoBiondo retain his seat throughout New Jersey’s 2nd Congressional District, including Cape May County, with 67.81 percent of the vote. Shober garnered 30.08 percent or 13,044 votes in the county. In Ocean City, LoBiondo won 4,124-1,760.

With longtime Cape May County Surrogate Robert Hentges not seeking re-election, two Ocean City residents both took a shot at the seat, but Freeholder M. Susan Sheppard, Republican, won with 63.9 percent or 26,080 votes against Democrat Jeffrey Sutherland with 36.05 percent or 14,715 votes. In Ocean City, Sheppard won 3,906- 1,906.

For Cape May County Freeholder, incumbent Leonard Desiderio, Republican mayor of Sea Isle City, took 65.43 percent or 26,860 votes against challenger Democrat Walter Deegan with 34.53 percent or 14,174 votes. In Ocean City, Desiderio won 3,940-1,813.