Deputy City Clerk Sheila Cottrell, left, and City Clerk Melissa Bovera tabulate votes Tuesday night at City Hall.
By Donald Wittkowski
Karen Bergman romped to a landslide win to retain her at-large seat on City Council, while Robert Barr emerged victorious in a three-way battle in the Fourth Ward in the Ocean City municipal election Tuesday night.
Incumbents Michael DeVlieger of the First Ward, Antwan McClellan of the Second Ward and Tony Wilson of the Third Ward all ran unopposed to win their second, four-year term.
Bergman defeated her opponent H. Lloyd Hayes III by 1,202 to 716 votes in the unofficial results Tuesday. A small number of absentee and provisional ballots still must be counted before the results become official, Deputy City Clerk Sheila Cottrell said.
Bergman showed strength citywide, winning every ward in an overwhelming victory that surprised even Hayes.
“I thought I would do better than this. I thought it would be closer, but it turned out not even close,” Hayes said. “But it’s the people’s choice. It’s the Democratic process.”
Bergman thanked the voters and expressed her gratitude to everyone who worked on her campaign, especially her campaign manager Kim Davies.
“I am surprised and humbled by all the citizens who invested their faith in me,” Bergman said of her margin of victory. “We have a terrific Council, and I look forward to an extremely productive time for the next two years.”
Bergman’s matchup against Hayes featured two well-known figures in local politics. Both have previous experience on the seven-member City Council.
With the win, Bergman will fill the unexpired term of former At-Large Councilman Michael Allegretto through June 2018. Allegretto left Council last fall to become the city’s director of community services.
Bergman was appointed by Council last fall to temporarily fill Allegretto’s seat until the election. Bergman, who works as director of catering for the Flanders Hotel, formerly served on Council from 2008 to 2012, but decided not to seek re-election in 2012.
Hayes also was vying for a return to Council. In 2006, he was appointed to a six-month stint on Council, but lost his seat in the following election.
Hayes’ experience in elected politics also included six years as a former member of the Ocean City Board of Education. He is a retired Ocean City teacher and swimming coach and is married to Cape May County Freeholder E. Marie Hayes.
In the other contested race, Barr defeated challengers Brenda Moiso and Bart Russell to prevail in the Fourth Ward. The Fourth Ward race was thrown wide open when incumbent Peter Guinosso decided not to seek re-election to spend more time with his family.
According to unofficial results, Barr had 320 votes, Moiso 257 and Russell 231.
A jubilant Barr said the results were “proof that hard work pays off.”
“I can’t wait to get to work,” he said. “I’m giving the Fourth Ward a fighter and a loud voice, which we haven’t had for a long time.”
Barr, who has been a legislative aide to state Sen. Jeff Van Drew for 10 years, said he plans to focus on road and drainage improvements to help alleviate the city’s flooding problems.
He also emphasized a need for the city to continue with its beach replenishment projects and a multimillion-dollar dredging program to clear out the clogged lagoons along the back bays.
The Fourth Ward race pitted three candidates who all have experience in elected or appointed office.
In addition to serving as Van Drew’s aide, Barr is a member of the New Jersey Pinelands Commission, a powerful body that oversees the environmentally sensitive Pine Barrens reserve in South Jersey.
Moiso, a local business owner, was a member of the Ocean City Board of Education for nine years, serving as its president in her last two years.
Russell, a former teacher and Vietnam veteran, ran unsuccessfully for the Fourth Ward seat in 2012. He formerly served on the Ocean City Board of Education for 10 years and was vice president of the Cape May County School Board.
In the uncontested races, DeVlieger had 384 votes in the First Ward, McClellan had 229 votes in the Second Ward and Wilson had 303 votes in the Third Ward.
DeVlieger, McClellan and Wilson all thanked the voters for their support and pledged to carry on with the work they started in their first terms on Council.
“I want to continue to work in every capacity that helps Ocean City remain the greatest family resort and year-round community,” DeVlieger said.
McClellan and Wilson stressed their commitment to the series of road, drainage, dredging, beach and Boardwalk improvements that are part of the city’s five-year, $98.5 million capital plan.
“It will still be dredging and flooding projects, especially in the First, Second and Third wards,” McClellan said.
Wilson said the city’s infrastructure projects seem to remain the highest priority among voters, so Council will continue along that path.
