2024 Statewide Leadership Summit

Law and Order Panel

Fri., 2:15 pm – 3:00 pm

Hear from Republican Sheriffs & Law Enforcement Leaders regarding the crime wave affecting our major cities, how Law & Order issues affect your campaigns, and how Democrat officials continue to demoralize cops & enable criminals.

Moderator

The Hon. Mike Donohue

Former New Jersey Superior Court Judge Michael J. Donohue comes from a Law Enforcement family. Mike’s father, William Donohue, was Chief of Police of Stone Harbor and later was a Cape May County Undersheriff under James Plousis, who went on to become U.S. Marshall. Mike’s brother Ed was Chief of Police in Lower Township. Mike began his legal career in 1994. He served as Municipal Prosecutor in Avalon, Stone Harbor, West Wildwood and Lower Township. Mike was also Solicitor for the Cape May County Association of Chiefs of Police. In 2015, Mike was appointed to the New Jersey Superior Court by Governor Chris Christie. Judge Donohue served in the Criminal Court in both Atlantic and Cape May counties and also in the Family Court. In 2020, Mike Donohue returned to the practice of law and to the Chairmanship of the CapeGOP, a position he also held from 2010-2015.

Panelists

Christopher Leusner

Christopher M. Leusner is the current Mayor of Middle Township, bringing 26 years of dedicated service in law enforcement. After retiring on June 1, 2023 as Chief of Police, he was elected to the Middle Township Committee in November of 2023 . During his thirteen and half year tenure as Chief of Police, Chief Leusner served as President of the New Jersey State Association of Chiefs of Police in 2019 and 2020, representing over 400 Chiefs of Police across the state. Additionally, in 2014, he held the position of President of the FBI National Academy New Jersey Chapter.

Chief Leusner’s journey in law enforcement began as a Special Class II Police Officer with the Wildwood Police Department in May 1997. Later that year, in September, he joined the Middle Township Police Department as a full-time Police Officer. His dedication and expertise led him to become a vital member of the Township SWAT Team, where he served for nine years, eventually assuming leadership roles as a SWAT leader and Commander of the Cape May County Regional SWAT Team.

In 2003, he was promoted to Sergeant, followed by achieving the rank of Lieutenant in 2006. As Lieutenant, he oversaw critical units such as the Major Crimes Unit and Communications Division, as well as conducting Internal Affairs Investigations.

Chief Leusner is a graduate of the FBI National Academy (Session 234) in Quantico, VA, and the New Jersey State Chiefs of Police West Point Command and Leadership School. In 2014, Chief Leusner participated in a leadership exchange program at the College of Policing in the United Kingdom. His educational background includes studies at Saint Leo University in Criminal Justice, and he holds a Master’s Degree in Administrative Science from Fairleigh Dickinson University, with a Certificate in Law and Public Safety Leadership.

Rob Nixon

Robert A. Nixon is the Director of Government Affairs for the New Jersey State Policemen’s Benevolent Association, New Jersey’s largest law enforcement officer union. He is also the founder of State House Strategies, a government affairs consulting firm in New Jersey.

He began his career in New Jersey government in 1993 as a political consultant and legislative aide to a number of elected officials and candidates, including former State Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Bill Gormley. Prior to and since becoming a lobbyist he has managed or advised on a variety of municipal, State Senate, General Assembly and Congressional races in New Jersey.

Mr. Nixon has over 30 years of experience in New Jersey government and GOP leadership positions. He served as a Councilman in Jackson, NJ from 2013-2019 and is currently a member of the Ocean County Republican Committee in Manahawkin. He serves as the Chairman of the Board of Directors of the New Jersey Schools Development Authority which oversees the State’s multi-billion dollar school construction program and he represents the 2nd Amendment community on the New Jersey Personalized Handgun Authorization Commission. He is also an Adjunct Professor at the University of Pennsylvania where he teaches a Graduate level course on Government Relations at Penn’s Fels Institute of Government.

Claire Swift

Assemblywoman Claire Swift was initially sworn in in January 2022 and again in January 2024 as her second term in the NJ State Assembly. Claire currently serves on the Labor and State and Local Government Committees. In her prior term, she served on the Labor, Law and Public Safety and the Human Services Committee. Claire’s legislative focus encompasses crucial areas such as law and public safety, helping working families, student loan protection, helping small businesses and skilled labor.

In 2022, Claire was awarded the Woman of the Year award by the New Jersey State Republican Committee. In 2023, Claire was awarded the Lincoln award by the Atlantic County Federation for Republican Woman Committee.

Claire resides in Margate with her husband, John, and their three children, Jack (13), Anthony (11), and Claire (11). Remarkably, she lives on the same street where she grew up, surrounded by the memories of her childhood and the support of her late father, a single parent who raised Claire and her seven siblings.

Tony Perry

Tony Perry joined the Township Committee in 2017. He was re-elected to the Township Committee in November 2021, and 2024 marks his sixth consecutive year as mayor – the longest-serving mayor in more than half a century. Mayor Perry is also the youngest mayor in Middletown’s 360-year history.

Prior to joining the Township Committee, Mayor Perry was a member of the Middletown Township Planning Board. He was also a Trustee of the Middletown Township Library Board. He currently serves as a member of the Middletown Economic Development Committee, America 250 Committee, and Municipal Shared Services Committee.

He also serves on several non-profit boards, such as Crossroads of the American Revolution, Sustainable Jersey, and the Eastern Monmouth Chamber of Commerce.

After graduating from Temple University, Mayor Perry joined the Sandy Recovery Division of Governor Chris Christie’s Office, coordinating recovery efforts with FEMA, the Office of Emergency Management, the Department of Community Affairs, and the Department of Environmental Protection. He also served as Chief of Staff to Senator Joseph M. Kyrillos from 2014 to 2018.

He lives in the Village section of Middletown with his wife Alannah and their children, Reagan, Grant, and Kennedy.

Shaun Golden