Freeholder Who Wore Confederate Flag Patch Loses Election

An Atlantic County freeholder who came under fire twice in the last year lost in his bid for re-election Tuesday night.

Republican John Carman, who apologized for a Confederate flag that he wore on his American Legion Riders jacket and came under fire earlier this year for asking "Will the women's protest be over in time for them to cook dinner?," fell to Democrat Ashley Bennett in the race for the District 3 freeholders seat.

Bennett won the election by about 500 votes, 5916 to 5,417, according to the unofficial results from the Atlantic County Clerk’s Office.

Bennett took offense to Carman’s comments about the Women’s March on Washington, D.C. — to which he remarked, "There must be a large sandwich making class going on in Washington, D.C.today," — and across the country.

In the case of the Women’s March, he said he supports women’s rights and the meme he posted on social media and his comments weren’t meant to offend anyone.

"The 'South Jersey Rebel' patch which was on my vest was created to symbolize the political North Jersey/South Jersey divide," Carman said of the Confederate flag on his jacket. "It was never intended to have any racial overtones whatsoever. This has been on my vest for years. Upon reflection and public outcry, l have removed it. I apologize for my insensitivity to those it may have offended and assure you that was not my intent. I always have, and always will represent all people, regardless of race or religion."

Bennett, 32, of Egg Harbor Township, was a first-time candidate who works in the crisis department at Cape Regional Hospital, according to nj.com.

Photo by Ty Wright/Getty Images News/Getty Images