Sheriff Blasts GOP Leadership

by Rob Shilrs COURT HOUSE — Although many were aghast when North Jersey Cong. Millicent Fcnwich - the endorsed candidate of the county GOP leadership — failed to carry the Jersey Cape in last month's U S Senate primary, at least one longtime of ficial, county Sheriff Beech Fox, wasn't surprised at all In fact, the five-term sheriff views the outcome as the latest proof the party hierarchy is "out of step with anization." In nn interview with the Herald on June 22, the sheriff — who emphasized his continued belief in the political party system - asserted the current GOP leadership has repeatedly failed to consult the "grassroots organization" in advance on important issues — opting instead to make

decisions fn the "backroom " (THROUGHOUT THE two-hour inter view. Mr Fox never mentioned Cape May County Republican leader and county treasurer Philip Matalucci by name The sheriff, did. however, acknowledge it was Mr Matalucci he was referring to when he mentioned county leader.» "The process [decision making! is coming from the top^jown rathenthan from the

— continued He acknowledge being at odds with the leadership over this issue on numerous occasions "THEY'RE UNCOMFORTABLE with anyone who rocks the boat." Fox said of the leaders "They'd be happy'tf I'd step out. but they're not going to get rid of me that easily " The sheriff's comments came in response In an article in the June 16 Herald

“My condemnation isn’t with the

party, it’s with the way they

select their candidate’'

bottom up." the sheriff said, emphasizing that if the leaders continue circumventing 'the electorate, the whole party structure will eventaully weaken "My condemnation isn't with the party It's with the way they select their can didate," Fox who supported conservative Jefferv Bell in the Senate primary

that presented the opinions of several county officials on whj the charismatic Mrs Fenwick was defeated in Cape May County "Those . particular officials (Countyleader Phil Matalucci. County Clerk Angela Pulvino, and Freeholder Gerald ‘Page 15 Please)

Boros Host To Soccer Festival STONE HARBOR — Nineteen teams, including one from Darmstadt. Germany, will be participating in a Soccer Festival in Stone Harbor and Avalon July It and 12 The tournament is being sponsored by the Cape May County Soccer Assoc and the Celtic Soccer Assoc, to bring high level soccer competition to the area Bob Halverson, president of county soccer association said the event is the first of a series which will bring soccer teams from all over the country to participate in tournament play THE COUNTY association has three divisions to to 12-year-old. 13 to if>. and 15 to 18 The Celtic association is for players 17 and over The county association provides soccer for 75 teams and 1.500 players during the two-part season Halverson said 120 players and their coaches representing 19 teams from Atlan tic. Cape May and Cumberland Counties. Washington. DC.. Philadelphia and Maryland will be housed in private homes during the tournament THE 12-MEMBER TEAM from Darm stadt was to arrive July 3 and be in the (Page 14 Please) inside

Tour is this weekend. Included ih Saturday's buildings is the old Courthouse,* above, in spired by the works of Sir Christopher Wren . Page 27 t

Utilities Have Squandered Billions, says Freeholder

COURT HOUSE The county governing body is joining in the battle for passage of a state Senate bill which would require utility companies to obtain a certificate of need before constructing new'generating

faci! 'ies.

"Utility companies have historically been irresponsible with their construction STEP Head Hits Utility Testimony Lower Twp. The Atlantic Electric Company’s testimony at the hearings for the $172.4 million rate seems to excel in confusion, according to E Waren Garret son. president of Stop The Electric Punch (STEP) f "In reviewing transcripts and notes of the initial evidentiary hearings now being (Page 15 Please)

projects and proposals for future construe Hon." Freeholder Gerald Thornton of Villas wrote in a recent letter to Sen Janies Hurley ' K Cape. Cumberland) urg

mg support of the hill. S 975

"BILLION'S HAVE BEEN squandered m the past." Mr Thornton continued "The burden of cost for this mismanage merit is placed on the user/consumer by in creasing the rales, with little cost being borne by the company or its

stockholders "i

New Jersey is one of only three stales that allows utilities to construct projects without first receiving certificates of need The Garden State also leads the nation in abandoned power plants, (proposed or Qprtjajly completed i according to the N .1 Public Interest Research Group, and the abandonment of three projects tret ween* 1978 and 1981 is said to have cost con sumers over $1 billion in increased utility

rates

ACCORDING TO NJPIRG. i"The gnver nor and-tbe utility companies want to con siderabljowhaken this bill They want to move reyponsAbility for conducting a needs assessment from ’irfe Dept of Energy to the Board, of Public Utilities You've Page 14 Please)

Special Session To

Review Attendance Rule

ERMA — The Lower Cape May Regional School Board will meet in special session tomorrow; July 8. to review a recent decision by school administrators that ended in four high school seniors being prohibited from graduating with their class because they failed to meet the school attendance policy The closed meeting among the affected students and parents and school board members is scheduled to begin at 7 30 p m in the media center of the Richard Teitelman.School THE PARENTS ARE seeking to have

School officials contend the policy stipulating students can’t miss more than 15 days of class and still receive gradua lion credit is based on state mandated at tendance requirements that became effective in September Superintendent Ephraim Keller has indicated the students in question all. missed well in excess of j5 days at least one over 30 days without legitimate reasons ACCORDING TO County Superintendent of Schools Robert Bongart. none of the other three public high schools in the coun ty Middle Township. W'ddwood. and

“If anything, it should be more”

the board reverse the administration's Ocean City have rcporhfd any problem decision - the final step in the local appeal with their attendance policies process before the issue would go before The county superintendent also the stale Commissioner of Education (Page 14Please)

News Digest

MAYOR BITTNER is sworn into office' by ‘Judge Richard Russell while Mr Bittner's family helps hold the Bible More than 300 attended the ‘ceremony at the Flanders Hotel.

Bittner is Mayor (’DEAN CITY' Chester Wunlierg • handed the reirut of city government over to Mayor Jack Bittner here July 2 a* the new administration was officially * ushered in In addition to Die shearing in of the ci l.V s new chief execi/tive. Couiicilwoman Jeanne Clunn was sworn in as yiiuricilwoman at lafgc and named coun cil ftrcsident r Councilmeii Herbert Brownlee and Henry Knight once again ■ took the oaths as eouncilmeq at large ('nuneilman'Jack Jones became council vice president, and former Councilman William Meis was named 2nd Ward f-oun f dpi an to fill the unexpired term of Ms Climn

Drop Police Plan A'proposal that would have required Upper and Dennis Townships, along with other slate municipalities, to pay for pro .tecI've services rendered by the State Police wasn't included in the stale budget approved by the legislature last week Adoption of the plan, proposed by the Joint Appropriations Committee last spr mg. Mould have cost Dennis Township almost 139,900 and t pper Tow nship ul ex ' cess-(if $67,000

Investigating Death SHAWCREST A 24 year old Wildwood ( Yesf man was killed here last w’eek when he lost control of.his motorcy cle while apparently racing a car across the George Redding Bridge ' Lower Twp police, said Monday they are still investigating the June tli acci denial hat claimed the life ol Philip I) Johnson of the 5700 block, of Park BIvcJ Authorities are looking for the car and driver that tied the scene immediately following the II 45 pm accident I\etv Prosecutor

COURT House i Capb May County PjRcculnr John Cormo was sworn in June 29 to the position he held from 1971 to 1976 The Wildwood former prosecutor Dfiriold Charles wjjo resigned to pursue private lawpractice in Ocean City Also* sworn in by Superior Court Judge James O'Neill was local attorney Edgar *■ Corino Holmes as first assistant prosecutor succeeding Peter Ham me’rslag). and assistant prosecutors Kyran Connor. Russell Lichtenstein and Robert Wells 3rd Heist in 15 Days CAPE MAY An undetermined amount of cash was taken from a safe and register of the Asimi jewelry shop by a well dressed black man armed with a pistol who struck owner Jan Chnssafis over the back of the head after the man hr- thought was a customer entered the store shortly after opening Wednesday morning. June 30 Authorities see no connection between the armed robbery of the Mall shop and the June lb armed robbery by a white man of $110 from the Dry Dock custard 'Page 14 Please»