Thornton, Hayes running together despite censure

A censure issued to Cape May County Freeholder Marie Hayes earlier this year hasn’t left a lasting rift between her and Freeholder Gerald Thornton,

“That’s been resolved,” Thornton said of the conflict stemming from the censure. “That’s been over for a while.”

Both freeholders declined to say whether they would seek re-election together after Hayes was censured for allegedly retaliating against freeholder board clerk Beth Bozzelli and an alleged conflict of interest involving Hayes’ son, who is a county employee.

They’re now campaigning together now despite a suit filed by Bozzelli that repeats the retaliations claims that were the source of the censure.

“We’re in the same party,” Hayes said. “We have the same beliefs.”