Former Township Councilman Mike Beck has announced his plans to run for Mayor of Lower Township as an independent this year.
He will be joined by Kevin Lare, the former West Cape May Borough Commissioner, who grew up in the township and now lives in Erma.
Beck, 58, of Villas, was the 1st Ward Councilman for two terms, but did not seek a third term in 2006. He was elected as a Republican, but often found himself at odds with the Republican majority on council.
A retired Philadelphia police officer, he now works as a teacher in the Our Lady Star of the Sea Regional Catholic School in Cape May, where he went after St. Raymond’s School closed in Villas last year.
Interviewed this week, he criticized the current administration of Mayor Walt Craig, on issues ranging from the proposed takeover of the Municipal Utilities Authority to the replacement of Kathleen McPherson as the township administrator. He said a lot of people have lost faith in local government.
Craig plans to seek another term as mayor, along with his prior running mate Councilman Robert Nolan. He also faces a challenge from within his own party, with Township Councilman Glenn Douglass seeking to take the Republican nomination in the June primary. It is possible Nolan could also face a primary challenge.
So far, the Democrats have not committed to candidates for this year, although there have been some who indicated an interest in running.
S. Harvey Roach, the recently appointed Democratic leader, said a meeting is planned for Wednesday, March 26, for the party committee to discuss the options.
“We’ve got some people that are interested, so we’re trying to narrow it down,” Roach said.