Editing Dennis Township, New Jersey (section)

== Government ==

=== Local government ===
Dennis Township is governed under the [[Township (New Jersey)|Township]] form of New Jersey municipal government, one of 141 municipalities (of the 564) statewide that use this form, the second-most commonly used form of government in the state.<ref>[https://njdatabook.rutgers.edu/sites/njdatabook.rutgers.edu/files/documents/inventory_of_municipal_forms_of_government_in_new_jersey.pdf ''Inventory of Municipal Forms of Government in New Jersey''], [[Rutgers University]] Center for Government Studies, July 1, 2011. Accessed June 1, 2023.</ref> The Township Committee is comprised of five members, who are elected directly by the voters [[at-large]] in partisan elections to serve three-year terms of office on a staggered basis, with either one or two seats coming up for election each year as part of the November general election in a three-year cycle.<ref name=DataBook>''2012 New Jersey Legislative District Data Book'', [[Rutgers University]] [[Edward J. Bloustein School of Planning and Public Policy]], March 2013, p. 8.</ref><ref>[https://njdatabook.rutgers.edu/sites/njdatabook.rutgers.edu/files/documents/forms_of_municipal_government_in_new_jersey_9220.pdf#page=7 "Forms of Municipal Government in New Jersey"], p. 7. [[Rutgers University]] Center for Government Studies. Accessed June 1, 2023.</ref> At an annual reorganization meeting, the Township Committee selects one of its members to serve as Mayor and another as Deputy Mayor. The Committee members serve in a part-time capacity and receive an annual salary.<ref name=History>[http://www.dennistwp.org/history.htm History and Organization of the Dennis Township Committee] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070726070419/http://www.dennistwp.org/history.htm |date=2007-07-26 }}, Dennis Township. Accessed March 6, 2007.</ref>

The governing body originally consisted of three elected officials, one of which would be elected by the membership to serve as the Mayor. In 1989 voters approved a ballot question to increase the membership from three members to five members, and in November 1990 the voters elected two additional Committee members. The first five-member committee took office in January 1991 at which time the governing body established the position of Township Administrator.<ref name=History/>

{{As of|2023}}, the members of the Dennis Township Committee are [[Mayor]] Zeth Anthony Matalucci ([[Republican Party (United States)|R]], term on committee ends December 31, 2025; term as mayor ends 2023), Deputy Mayor Scott J. Turner (R, term on committee and as deputy mayor ends 2023), Matthew J. Cox (R, 2025), Frank L. Germanio Jr. (R, 2024) and Thomas Van Artsdalen III (R, 2023).<ref name=Personnel>[https://dennistwp.org/township-personnel/ Township Personnel], Township of Dennis. Accessed June 9, 2023.</ref><ref>[https://dennistwp.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/05/2023-Adopted-Budget-min.pdf 2023 Municipal Data Sheet], Dennis Township. Accessed July 26, 2022.</ref><ref name=CapeMayOfficials>[https://www.capemaycountyvotes.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/2023-All-Elected-Officials-INTERNET-July.pdf 2023 County & Municipal Elected Officials Cape May County, NJ -- July 2023], [[Cape May County, New Jersey]], August 3, 2023. Accessed August 23, 2023.</ref><ref name=CapeMay2022>[https://www.capemaycountyvotes.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/1.-2022-GENERAL-SUMMARY-REPORT-OFFICIAL.pdf Summary Results Report 2022 November Cape May General Election November 8, 2022 Official Results], [[Cape May County, New Jersey]], updated November 17, 2022. Accessed January 1, 2023.</ref><ref name=CapeMay2021>[https://www.capemaycountyvotes.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/11/2021-General-Successful-Candidates.pdf 2021 General Election Successful Candidates], [[Cape May County, New Jersey]], updated November 16, 2021. Accessed January 1, 2022.</ref><ref name=CapeMay2020>[https://www.capemaycountyvotes.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/2020-Successful-General-Candidates.pdf 2020 General Election Successful Candidates], [[Cape May County, New Jersey]], updated December 4, 2020. Accessed January 1, 2021.</ref>

In October 2017, the Township Committee appointed Nicolas Elisano to fill the seat expiring December 2019 that became vacant following the resignation of Melanie Smith, who was moving out of the township.<ref>Sailer, Camille. [https://www.capemaycountyherald.com/news/government/article_f5838056-bdb3-11e7-8cc0-2bf4a46662d9.html "Elisano Replaces Smith on Dennis Committee"], ''[[Cape May County Herald]]'', October 30, 2017. Accessed September 16, 2019. "Dennis Township Committee approved a resolution Oct. 24 authorizing the appointment of Nicolas Elisano to fill a vacancy on the governing body. He was sworn in at the same session. The vacancy resulted from the resignation of Committee member Melanie Smith."</ref> In November 2018, Matthew J. Cox was elected to serve the balance of the term of office.<ref name=CapeMay2018>[https://www.capemaycountyvotes.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/11/2018-General-Election-Statement-of-Vote.pdf 2018 General Election Statement of Vote], [[Cape May County, New Jersey]], updated November 26, 2018. Accessed January 1, 2019.</ref>

=== Federal, state and county representation ===
Dennis Township is located in the 2nd Congressional District<ref name=PCR2012>[https://www.nj.gov/state/elections/assets/pdf/2012-congressional-districts/njcd-2011-plan-components-county-mcd.pdf Plan Components Report], [[New Jersey Redistricting Commission]], December 23, 2011. Accessed February 1, 2020.</ref> and is part of New Jersey's 1st state legislative district.<ref name=Districts2011>[https://www.nj.gov/state/elections/assets/pdf/2011-legislative-districts/towns-districts.pdf Municipalities Sorted by 2011-2020 Legislative District], [[New Jersey Department of State]]. Accessed February 1, 2020.</ref><ref name=LWV2019>[https://uploads-ssl.webflow.com/5bae63366fd2b2e5b9f87e5e/5d30f0a94a82c66427e564d2_2019_CitizensGuide.pdf ''2019 New Jersey Citizen's Guide to Government''], New Jersey [[League of Women Voters]]. Accessed October 30, 2019.</ref><ref>[https://www.njleg.state.nj.us/districts/districtnumbers.asp#1 Districts by Number for 2011-2020], [[New Jersey Legislature]]. Accessed January 6, 2013.</ref>

{{NJ Congress 02}} {{NJ Senate}}

{{NJ Legislative 01}}

{{NJ Cape May County Freeholders}}

===Politics===
As of March 2011, there were a total of 4,499 registered voters in Dennis Township, of which 1,091 (24.2%) were registered as [[Democratic Party (United States)|Democrats]], 1,527 (33.9%) were registered as [[Republican Party (United States)|Republicans]] and 1,877 (41.7%) were registered as [[Unaffiliated (New Jersey)|Unaffiliated]]. There were 4 voters registered as [[Libertarian Party (United States)|Libertarians]] or [[Green Party (United States)|Greens]].<ref>[http://www.state.nj.us/state/elections/election-results/2011-capemay-co-summary-report.pdf Voter Registration Summary - Cape May], [[New Jersey Department of State]] Division of Elections, March 23, 2011. Accessed October 16, 2012.</ref>

In the [[United States presidential election in New Jersey, 2012|2012 presidential election]], Republican [[Mitt Romney]] received 55.5% of the vote (1,809 cast), ahead of Democrat [[Barack Obama]] with 43.1% (1,406 votes), and other candidates with 1.4% (45 votes), among the 3,296 ballots cast by the township's 4,624 registered voters (36 ballots were [[Spoilt vote|spoiled]]), for a turnout of 71.3%.<ref name=2012Elections>{{cite web |url=http://www.state.nj.us/state/elections/2012-results/2012-presidential-cape-may.pdf |title=Presidential General Election Results - November 6, 2012 - Cape May County |date=March 15, 2013 |publisher=New Jersey Department of Elections |access-date=December 24, 2014}}</ref><ref name=2012VoterReg>{{cite web |url=http://www.state.nj.us/state/elections/2012-results/2012-ballotscast-capemay.pdf |title=Number of Registered Voters and Ballots Cast - November 6, 2012 - General Election Results - Cape May County|date=March 15, 2013 |publisher=New Jersey Department of Elections |access-date=December 24, 2014}}</ref> In the [[United States presidential election in New Jersey, 2008|2008 presidential election]], Republican [[John McCain]] received 55.4% of the vote (1,904 cast), ahead of Democrat [[Barack Obama]], who received 42.4% (1,459 votes), with 3,437 ballots cast among the township's 4,331 registered voters, for a turnout of 79.4%.<ref>[http://www.state.nj.us/state/elections/election-results/2008-gen-elect-presidential-results-cape-may.pdf 2008 Presidential General Election Results: Cape May County], [[New Jersey Department of State]] Division of Elections, December 23, 2008. Accessed October 16, 2012.</ref> In the [[United States presidential election in New Jersey, 2004|2004 presidential election]], Republican [[George W. Bush]] received 58.1% of the vote (1,977 ballots cast), outpolling Democrat [[John Kerry]], who received around 40.0% (1,362 votes), with 3,401 ballots cast among the township's 4,424 registered voters, for a turnout percentage of 76.9.<ref>[http://www.state.nj.us/state/elections/election-results/2004-presidential_capemay_co_2004.pdf 2004 Presidential Election: Cape May County], [[New Jersey Department of State]] Division of Elections, December 13, 2004. Accessed October 16, 2012.</ref>

{| class="wikitable" style="float:right; font-size:95%;"
|+ Presidential elections results
|- bgcolor=lightgrey
! Year
![[Republican Party (United States)|Republican]]
![[Democratic Party (United States)|Democratic]]
|-
| style="text-align:center;" {{Party shading/Republican}}|'''[[2024 United States presidential election in New Jersey|2024]]<ref name="2024Elections">{{cite web |url=https://www.nj.gov/state/elections/assets/pdf/election-results/2024/2024-official-general-results-president-capemay.pdf|title=Presidential November 5, 2024 General Election Results Cape May County|access-date=January 13, 2025}}</ref>'''
| style="text-align:center;" {{Party shading/Republican}}|'''66.3%''' ''2,623''
| style="text-align:center;" {{Party shading/Democratic}}|32.1% ''1,272''
|-
| style="text-align:center;" {{Party shading/Republican}}|'''[[United States presidential election in New Jersey, 2020|2020]]<ref name="2020Elections">{{cite web |url=https://www.nj.gov/state/elections/assets/pdf/election-results/2020/2020-official-general-results-president-capemay.pdf|title=Presidential November 3, 2020 General Election Results Cape May County|access-date=January 13, 2025}}</ref>'''
| style="text-align:center;" {{Party shading/Republican}}|'''62.8%''' ''2,573''
| style="text-align:center;" {{Party shading/Democratic}}|35.5% ''1,456''
|-
| style="text-align:center;" {{Party shading/Republican}}|'''[[United States presidential election in New Jersey, 2016|2016]]<ref name="2016Elections">{{cite web |url=https://www.nj.gov/state/elections/assets/pdf/election-results/2016/2016-gen-elect-presidential-results-cape-may.pdf|title=Presidential General Election Results – November 8, 2016 – Cape May County|publisher=New Jersey Department of Elections|access-date=December 31, 2017}}</ref>'''
| style="text-align:center;" {{Party shading/Republican}}|'''61.8%''' ''2,160''
| style="text-align:center;" {{Party shading/Democratic}}|33.3% ''1,164''
|-
| style="text-align:center;" {{Party shading/Republican}}|'''[[United States presidential election in New Jersey, 2012|2012]]<ref name="2012Election">{{cite web |url=http://www.state.nj.us/state/elections/2012-results/2012-presidential-cape-may.pdf |title=Presidential General Election Results - November 6, 2012 - Cape May County|publisher=New Jersey Department of Elections |access-date=January 13, 2025}}</ref>'''
| style="text-align:center;" {{Party shading/Republican}}|'''55.5%''' ''1,809''
| style="text-align:center;" {{Party shading/Democratic}}|43.1% ''1,406''
|-
| style="text-align:center;" {{Party shading/Republican}}|'''[[United States presidential election in New Jersey, 2008|2008]]<ref name="state.nj.us">[http://www.state.nj.us/state/elections/election-results/2008-gen-elect-presidential-results-cape-may.pdf 2008 Presidential General Election Results: Cape May County], [[New Jersey Department of State]] Division of Elections, December 23, 2008. Accessed January 13, 2025.</ref>'''
| style="text-align:center;" {{Party shading/Republican}}|'''55.4%''' ''1,904''
| style="text-align:center;" {{Party shading/Democratic}}|42.4% ''1,459''
|-
| style="text-align:center;" {{Party shading/Republican}}|'''[[United States presidential election in New Jersey, 2004|2004]]'''<ref name="Presidential Election 2004">[http://www.state.nj.us/state/elections/election-results/2004-presidential_capemay_co_2004.pdf 2004 Presidential Election: Cape May County], [[New Jersey Department of State]] Division of Elections, December 13, 2004. Accessed January 13, 2025.</ref>
| style="text-align:center;" {{Party shading/Republican}}|'''58.1%''' ''1,977''
| style="text-align:center;" {{Party shading/Democratic}}|40.0% ''1,362''
|}

In the [[New Jersey gubernatorial election, 2013|2013 gubernatorial election]], Republican [[Chris Christie]] received 69.1% of the vote (1,647 cast), ahead of Democrat [[Barbara Buono]] with 29.4% (702 votes), and other candidates with 1.5% (36 votes), among the 2,481 ballots cast by the township's 4,559 registered voters (96 ballots were spoiled), for a turnout of 54.4%.<ref name=2013Elections>{{cite web |url=http://www.state.nj.us/state/elections/2013-results/2013-general-election-results-governor-cape-may.pdf |title=Governor - Cape May County |date=January 29, 2014 |publisher=New Jersey Department of Elections |access-date=December 24, 2014}}</ref><ref name=2013VoterReg>{{cite web |url=http://www.state.nj.us/state/elections/2013-results/2013-general-election-ballotscast-capemay.pdf |title=Number of Registered Voters and Ballots Cast - November 5, 2013 - General Election Results - Cape May County|date=January 29, 2014 |publisher=New Jersey Department of Elections |access-date=December 24, 2014}}</ref> In the [[New Jersey gubernatorial election, 2009|2009 gubernatorial election]], Republican Chris Christie received 51.9% of the vote (1,251 ballots cast), ahead of both Democrat [[Jon Corzine]] with 37.1% (894 votes) and Independent [[Chris Daggett]] with 8.2% (197 votes), with 2,411 ballots cast among the township's 4,572 registered voters, yielding a 52.7% turnout.<ref>[http://www.njelections.org/election-results/2009-governor_results-cape-may.pdf 2009 Governor: Cape May County] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121017225450/http://www.njelections.org/election-results/2009-governor_results-cape-may.pdf |date=2012-10-17 }}, [[New Jersey Department of State]] Division of Elections, December 31, 2009. Accessed October 16, 2012.</ref>