Upper Township deputy mayor cites commitment to party, conservative Christian values
PETERSBURG — Deputy Mayor Kim Hayes told the Upper Township Sentinel of her intent to seek the Republican nomination for the Cape May County Board of Commissioners.
The nomination deadline is March 27. Early voting is scheduled for June 2-4 and election day is June 6.
Hayes provided a letter that she submitted to county GOP Chairman Mike Donohue announcing her intent to seek the seat of fellow township resident Brig. Gen. Jeffrey Pierson, who is not seeking re-election.
“I am a lifelong resident of Cape May County and have been involved in the Republican Party for nearly as long,” Hayes wrote in the letter.
It states that her commitment to the party began at age 9 when she volunteered to hand out literature at the Ocean City Block Party.
“Being involved in the conservative movement from such a young age helped me understand very early on the effect that government has on our daily lives. As a result, I have continued to work to elect Republican candidates at every level of government throughout my life,” she wrote.
“Conservative values are the reason Cape May County was such a special place to be raised, and to raise my children. This has never been more prevalent than these past few years,” the letter states.
Hayes provides examples based on life experiences as reasons why she supports the GOP, hitting on common party tropes such as defense funding, parental rights and immigration:
— “As a frontline worker during the pandemic, I understood the threats to the health of our nation. I watched as liberal legislators used that threat to enact massive government overreach.”
— “As the wife of a law enforcement officer, I have watched as liberals have vilified and abandoned those who put themselves at risk every day to protect and serve.”
— “As the mother of a member of the United States Coast Guard, I’m watching how underfunded and unsupported our military is. I also now know that the border crisis is much bigger than what is happening in Texas.”
— “As a parent, I am watching as the Department of Education removes us from raising our children with our own Christian values.”
“Cape May County needs strong conservative voices willing to continue the fight against the liberal agenda being forced upon us at every turn,” the letter states.
Hayes, 44, joined Township Committee in 2020 when she was appointed to fill the vacancy left by Committeeman Hobie Young.
“In November 2020, the opportunity to stop watching and take action presented itself,” the letter states, noting the Upper Township Republican County Committee selected her from a field of seven candidates.
She became only the third woman ever to serve on Township Committee and first to hold a leadership role after being chosen deputy mayor during the 2023 reorganization meeting.
In 2021, she won her first full term while running with Mayor Jay Newman and Committeeman Mark Pancoast.
“We were elected by a 2-1 margin over the other six candidates seeking office,” the letter states.
“Every municipality faces its own areas of concern. Having representatives who understand those issues on an intimate level is essential to the continued success of our government and our party,” the letter concludes. “My proven electability, municipal government experience and lifelong commitment to the Cape May County Republican Party are just a few of the strengths I would bring to the Republican ticket and the Board of County Commissioners.”
By CRAIG D. SCHENCK/Sentinel staff