November 2009 New Jersey Legislature Election
Assembly Candidate District 1
John A. McCann (Republican)
 
Contact Information
PHONE: 609-408-8106
 
Other Candidates (*denotes incumbent)
  • Mike Donohue (Republican)
  • Matthew Milam* (Democrat)
  • Nelson Albano* (Democrat)
 
Biography (Adapted by NJ VoterInfo staff from article at ShoreNewsToday.com)

John McCann was selected by Republican district leaders to run for the Assembly after Frank Conrad, a two-term Upper Township committeeman, dropped out of the race shortly after the June primary. Mr. McCann is the Republican Municipal Chair of Ocean City. He served as Cape May County coordinator for Tom Kean for US Senate in ‘07, LoBiondo for Congress County Chair in 08 and currently heads the Cape May County gubernatorial campaign for Chris Christie.

One of 12 children, Mr. McCann was born in Sea Isle City to Charles and Maureen McCann. His father Charles McCann left Philadelphia and a real estate business to establish a new firm, Charles A. McCann. As a child, John McCann joined his siblings in selling hotdogs and snacks to beach-goers at a small snck stand built by his father, financing their college educations. Later, they joined the local beach patrol.

After guarding in Sea Isle for 11 years, Mr. McCann joined the Wildwood Beach Patrol, serving as captain for 10 years. He earned a degree in business, personnel and labor relations from LaSalle University.

Mr. McCann worked in the family real estate office and the beach patrol, retiring from the beach patrol to take control of the real estate office in 1994. Five years ago he opened an office in Ocean City.
His brother lives in Vineland and is the principal of Vineland High School.

He was recently appointed to the Cape May County Board of Taxation and is a past president of the Cape May County Board of Realtors. He currently sits on the New Jersey Real Estate Appraisal Board. He is a past director of the Cape May County Chamber of Commerce and is a member of the Ocean City Chamber of Commerce. He is a 4th Degree Knight of Columbus and a founding member of the South Jersey Rowers Association.

Mr. McCann and his wife Kathie reside in Ocean City with their two children, Myra and Sean.
Views on Issues (Adapted by NJ VoterInfo staff from article at ShoreNewsToday.com)

Mr. McCann has said that taxes are the biggest issue in this campaign year. He has proposed easing the tax burden to jumpstart the economy.

“I really believe in my heart that the biggest issue we have is taxes,” said McCann. “Some say unemployment, and I don’t disagree. It is a problem. However, I believe that if we take care of this huge tax burden, if we stop the spending and cut taxes, we can take care of the employment issue.

“The tax issue is strangling everyone so badly. It’s a disgrace. They keep going after the ‘wealthy,’” he said. “Here’s the problem, the so-called wealthy are no longer wealthy. Everyone, from the federal government to the state government is going after them, as though they are a bottomless pit. If you take from them by increasing their taxes, then they start holding on to their wallets. The people who are hurt are the working class people, in the service industry, people who work hard for a living. It’s a domino effect right down the line.”