Cape GOP Elected Officials

My family has deep roots in Cumberland County and South Jersey.

On my Dad’s side, my great-grandparents emigrated from Italy – legally, by the way – to secure a better future for their children and themselves.

My grandfather became the first elected Mayor of the City of Vineland in and went on to become a Judge, despite not even speaking English until the 1st grade.  His son, my father, went on to start and build our family law firm where I now practice.

On Mom’s side, my grandparents were Polish Jews who met in a Nazi concentration camp during World War II and were, thank God, freed by Allied soldiers.  After the war, they came to the United States, where my Mom was born. They settled in Buena and ran a chicken farm that I fondly recall playing at as a kid.

My parents and grandparents instilled in me the same core values that my wife, Julie, and I are trying to teach our own three children: treat everyone as you would like to be treated, help those less fortunate than you, work hard and play by the rules.

As parents out there know, it’s a challenge in today’s’ world.

I am a graduate of Villanova University School of Law and I received a Masters at Temple University Beasley School of Law. My wife Julie and live in Vineland with our three children, Eva Marie, Sarah, and Tripp.

Julie is the engine that makes our family go. She is a former Miss New Jersey, currently a school librarian in Vineland, and made me the luckiest guy in the world when we were married.

As you heard, public service has been an important part of our family’s history when I was growing up.  As an adult, I made a commitment to continuing that legacy long before ever considering a run for public office.

At 26, I was the Board Chairman of the Vineland Downtown Improvement District/Main Street Vineland.  I am a proud member of the Greater Vineland Chapter of the NAACP and Past Chair of Big Brothers Big Sisters of Cumberland and Salem Counties.

And, as the incredibly proud father of two little girls, I have been the Board President of the Vineland Regional Dance company for several years, and the 2016 recipient of the South Jersey Cultural Alliance Paul Aiken Encore Award for his dedication to the arts in South Jersey.

Antwan McClellan is a long-time Ocean City resident who graduated from Ocean City High School in 1993.

McClellan is an Ocean City Councilman and former School Board Member who established taxes, protected teacher’s jobs and organized Hurricane Sandy relief efforts. He was an Ocean City School Board Member for 3 years, Ocean City Council Ward 2 for 7 years and is a current member of the Cape May County NAACP.

In his free time, he has been a Girls’ Junior High Basketball Coach, Field of Dreams Baseball Coach, and a volunteer at the Ocean City Historical Museum.

Thornton was elected freeholder in 1995. A former freeholder for 11 years (1976-1987) and former director for 3 years, Thornton attended Kellogg Community College and the University of Maryland Overseas Extension.

An 11-year veteran of the U.S. Air Force, Thornton attended technical schools including Air Traffic Controller, Space Tracking and Telemetry, Automatic Radar, Management and Supervision and Non-Commissioned Officers Academy.

Thornton is the proud father of 2 sons, Christopher and Mark, 2 granddaughters Kirby and Shelby, and 2 grandsons Christopher David and Matthew Mark.

As Freeholder, she is the Director of Tourism & Public Information, Public Offices and Transportation overseeing the Board of Elections, Culture and Heritage, Fare Free Transportation, Library, Museum, Park/Zoo, Print Shop, Surrogate and Tax Board. She is Freeholder Liaison to the Women’s Commission, Library Commission, Park Advisory Board, ACCC School of Estimate, Special Services and Technical School Board of Estimate and the
Jersey Shore Partnership. Freeholder Hayes is the First Vice President of the New Jersey Association of Counties and the Vice President of the Southern New Jersey Freeholders Association. She also represents the Board on the County Chamber of Commerce and the Ocean City Chamber of Commerce.

In the late 1970’s, Freeholder Hayes was hired by the Cape May County Prosecutor’s Office as an Investigator. During the majority of her career, she was assigned to Child Abuse and Sexual Assault Investigations. Freeholder Hayes rose through the ranks being promoted to Sergeant of Detectives, Lieutenant of Detectives and retiring as Captain of Detectives in 2009. She also served as the Vice President of PBA Local 59.

Freeholder Hayes received her Associate Degree from Atlantic Cape Community College, where she also was an Adjunct Professor teaching Criminal Investigation. She received a Bachelor Degree in Human Services, with a concentration in Criminal Justice from Thomas Edison State College and is a 1996 graduate of the FBI National Academy in Quantico, Virginia.

Freeholder Hayes received the Woman of Wonder award in 2016 and the prestigious Boy Scouts of America Woman of Achievement Award in 2018. She is also being honored by Atlantic Cape Community College as one of the Alumni of the Year in 2019 and has been asked to be the commencement speaker at the 2019 graduation ceremony. In June, she will receive an award from Women United Power of the Purse. Freeholder Hayes is active in the community where she resides with her husband Lloyd of 37 years. She has two grown daughters Danielle and Megan, a grown son Henry Lloyd, a son-in-law Vince and six grandchildren. She is also the proud sister of 4 brothers all Veterans having served in the Navy, Air Force and Army. Her husband Lloyd is also a Navy veteran.