Eight of the 35 mayors from six South Jersey counties announced by Gov. Chris Christie's office as supporters of his Cap 2.5 property tax reform plan are Democrats, bringing to 17 the number of Democratic mayors who have signed on publicly as backers.
That amounts to 10% of the mayors rolled out by Christie's office in four batches over the last two weeks. There have also been five independents, while the overwhelming majority -- 151 out of 173 mayors, or 87% -- are Christie's fellow Republicans.
Christie's plan was endorsed by 27% of mayors in the six counties announced on Wednesday (Atlantic, Camden, Cape May, Cumberland, Gloucester and Salem), a bit below the plan's 31% mayoral endorsement rate statewide.
Atlantic County's 43% trailed only Ocean County (61%) and Morris County (41%). Camden County's rate (14%) was lower than any county except for Middlesex County (8%).
Full list of the latest mayors hopping aboard is below. Earlier lists can be found in earlier posts on the blog ...
Atlantic County (10 mayors, out of 23 municipalities)
- Mayor Carol Foster, Corbin City (R)
- Mayor Joseph Kuehner, Egg Harbor City (D)
- Mayor Joe Venezia, Estell Manor (D)
- Mayor Thomas Ballistreri, Folsom (R)
- Mayor Keith Hartman, Galloway (R)
- Mayor Roger Silva, Hamilton (R)
- Mayor Stephen DiDonato, Hammonton (R)
- Mayor Richard DePamphilis, Linwood City (R)
- Mayor Gary Giberson, Port Republic (R)
- Mayor Amelia Messina, Weymouth (D)
Camden County (5 of 37)
- Mayor Michael Blunt, Chesilhurst (D)
- Mayor Scott Alexander, Haddon Heights (R)
- Mayor Frank DeLucca, Lindenwold (D)
- Mayor John Gentless, Stratford (R)
- Mayor Sue Anne Metzner, Winslow (D)
Cape May County (5 of 16)
- Mayor Martin Pagliughi, Avalon (R)
- Mayor Michael Beck, Lower (I)
- Mayor Len Desiderio, Sea Isle City (R)
- Mayor Carl Groon, Wildwood Crest (R)
- Mayor William Pikolycky, Woodbine (R)
Cumberland County (4 of 14)
- Mayor James Begley, Bridgeton (R)
- Mayor George Garrison, Commercial Township (R)
- Mayor Frank Spatola, Deerfield (D)
- Mayor Andrew Sarclette, Maurice River (D)
Gloucester County (8 of 24)
- Mayor Jeff Radio, Clayton (R)
- Mayor Phil Barbaro, Elk Township (R)
- Mayor Patrick Dougherty, Franklin (R)
- Mayor George Shivery, Greenwich (R)
- Mayor Louis Manzo, Harrison Township (R)
- Mayor Joseph Curcio III, Newfield (R)
- Mayor James McCall, South Harrison (R)
- Mayor Thomas Capaldi, Wenonah (R)
Salem County (3 of 15)
- Mayor Ernest Tark, Mannington Township (R)
- Mayor William Miller, Oldmans (R)
- Mayor Jack Cimprich, Upper Pittsgrove (R)
