An April 14 debate among four candidates running for City Council in the May 13 municipal election will air on public-access Channel 97 for Comcast Cable subscribers in Ocean City at the following times:
- Friday, April 25, 7:30 p.m.
- Sunday, April 27, 7 p.m.
- Monday, April 28, 8 a.m.
The debate was sponsored by the Fairness in Taxes community group and the Ocean City Sentinel. It featured candidates Mike Allegretto, Keith Hartzell, Mike Hyson and Eric Sauder. Candidate Pete Madden was unable to attend because of a family vacation planned before the debate was scheduled. Ocean City Sentinel editor David Nahan and OCNJ Daily editor Doug Bergen moderated.
The format gave the audience a chance to hear all candidates respond to the same questions. It also allowed them to pose questions to each other and to answer yes-or-no questions from the moderators.
A last-minute change of format to a
candidates forum sponsored by the Ocean City Community Association on Wednesday (April 23) left attendees disappointed.
A City Council candidates debate sponsored by the Democratic and Republican organizations of Ocean City is scheduled for 7 p.m. April 29 in the Bill and Nancy Hughes Performing Arts Center at Ocean City High School. The same organizations are hosting a mayoral debate 7 p.m. May 7 at the same place.
Incumbent Mayor Jay Gillian and Ed Price are running for mayor in the May election. The five council candidates are vying for the three at-large seats on Ocean City's seven-member City Council.
