Lois Replaces Bevere As Chatham Township Committee Candidate

CHATHAM, NJ — Chatham Township’s Republican Committee announced that candidate Daniel Bevere - the Republican nominee in June’s uncontested primary - has stepped down, with Mark Lois now taking Bevere’s former spot.

Spokesperson Thom Ammirato made the announcement about the candidate switch on Thursday, with the roster of 2021 General Election candidates updated on the Morris County Clerk’s Office website as of Thursday, reflecting in Chatham Township’s Committee race that Lois was now the candidate.

Lois is planning to face Katherine “Kathy” Abbott, the Democratic primary nominee, who now sits on the Township Committee as both a member and deputy mayor.

During the June 8 Republican primary, Bevere had 499 votes and Abbott 278 in the Democratic primary.

Lois was unanimously selected for Bevere’s spot by fellow members of the township's Republican Committee.

“Mark has my confidence and the unanimous support of the Republican Committee,” said Bevere, who stepped down for professional obligations and is the municipal chairman of the Chatham Township Republican Committee. “He will be an excellent addition to the Township Committee.”

More About Mark Lois

Lois has been a Chatham resident for 11 years, residing in the township with his wife and two sons, who are students in the School District of the Chathams. A lifelong resident of New Jersey, Lois is a graduate of Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute. He has volunteered with the Colony Pool Committee, becoming the committee’s chairman in 2021.

“I am so honored to accept the nomination to be the Republican candidate for Chatham Township Committee,” said Lois. “Chatham Township’s character is worth preserving. It is an incredible place and home to truly exceptional people.”

Lois said he decided to run, citing a “20 percent tax increase of the past two years of Democratic control” in the township, among his reasons. He said he’s been successful with township resources as a volunteer “as a result of creative problem solving and resident collaboration.”

More About Chatham Township’s 2021 Election Season So Far

The swap between Bevere and Lois adds another layer to an already eventful election season in Chatham Township.

Abbott was appointed on July 13 to the Chatham Township Committee by the Democratic Committee of Chatham Township, with her ceremonious swearing-in two days later, when she was also picked 3-2 as the township’s deputy mayor.

This happened following two unsuccessful attempts to place her in the vacancy left after the resignation of former Chatham Township Mayor Tracy Ness on June 11. Ness had endorsed Abbott as the Democratic primary candidate in April, after announcing she would not run again. Ness then submitted her letter of resignation days after the primary, stating that she and her family were moving out of the township.

Abbott ended up in the seat after the two Republicans on the Township Committee sided that a nominee shouldn’t be picked in executive session, which triggered a special meeting on July 8. At that meeting, the two Democratic and Republican committee members ended up in a deadlock over their nominee choices, with the Democratic nominees given opportunities to speak and answer questions in a public session.

Abbott had previously served on the Township Committee as a Republican from 2012 through 2014, attempting to run again for office in 2014 and 2015, but lost both times in the Republican primary.

After being inactive in Republican politics in recent years, the Democratic Committee of Chatham asked Abbott to run in the Democratic primary. Her switch from the Republican to Democratic Party this past spring, adds one more element to the Chatham Township race for Township Committee.

It is also Abbott's first time as a Committee Member serving as the township's Deputy Mayor.

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RELATED: Mayor Tracy Ness Resigns From Chatham Township Committee

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Editor's Note: Article was updated July 31, 2021, 7:45 p.m., to clarify Abbott's runs in 2014 and 2015, as well as her party switch.

Questions or comments about this story? Have a news tip? Contact me at: jennifer.miller@patch.com.