Pete Madden: A Steadfast, Experienced Voice Putting Ocean City First

Paid for by the campaign of Karen Bergman, Pete Madden and Tony Polcini Hello, my name is Pete Madden and I am asking for your support to be re-elected to Council At-Large in the upcoming May 10 municipal election. I have had the pleasure of serving on City Council for the past eight years and am proud of the progress the administration and Council have made within that time frame to keep Ocean City moving forward. Moving to Ocean City full time in 2004, I have been fortunate enough to immerse myself in a diverse group of opportunities to broaden my horizons as to what the needs of this town are. It is these relationships with the people I look to serve that keep Ocean City a wonderful place to live and visit. Throughout my time on Council, I have also been fortunate to serve on a number of boards and commissions to keep myself informed and abreast of what is going on throughout the town and county. These service opportunities, including the Ocean City Education Foundation board, executive board of directors for the Ocean City Board of Realtors, Shore Medical Center Planned Giving & Development board, the Ocean City Tourism Commission, Utility Advisory board, the board of directors for the Ocean City Regional Chamber of Commerce, CASA Annual Golf Outing board and Jr. Raiders Football board, have allowed me to form relationships with a diverse group of people. Being active in the community also helps me keep my finger on the pulse of what is happening in and around Ocean City so that I can best serve the constituents of this town. There seems to be a few hot topics this campaign season, so I wanted to take the opportunity to detail my opinions and thoughts on them here. It is important to note, though, that if given the opportunity to be re-elected, my voice is just one of seven on Council and we are elected to represent the collective voice of the constituents. Some of the potential projects and issues we are facing as a town are decisions made at a county, state or national level. High-Rise Hotels – I am not in favor of high-rise hotels. The ordinance in town specifically states that in the Boardwalk district, height restrictions are limited to 25 feet for commercial use only. Residential use is not permitted in the Boardwalk zone, the specific purpose of keeping high-rise hotels out of our skyline. BYOB – Ocean City’s image and brand is built on the foundation of family first and family friendly. The inclusion of bars, BYOBs and alcohol sales would negatively impact the reputation the city has maintained since its founding. The overwhelming majority of residents Council represents, myself included, is against the inclusion of alcohol sales within our eight-mile island. Wind Farm – I support the idea of green energy and think it is an important topic to explore as we continue to use the limited natural resources the planet has, but I do not believe a wind farm off our coastline is a feasible and practical application. I will do my best to represent the wants and needs of Ocean City, while working within the confines of what we can control at the local level. Campaign finances have come into question this election and I wanted to address it with transparency and facts. I have built my personal and professional life in this town on the relationships that I have formed. These relationships, which are rooted in mutual respect, have allowed me to give back to a number of organizations and individuals throughout the years, and I have been fortunate to receive generosity in return. Any monies received have been given strictly on the premise of campaign support with no strings attached. Ultimately, this election is a job interview by the residents of this town for a four-year term for the progress and future of Ocean City. It is not a popularity contest or one that should prey on fears or misinformation. I pride myself on transparency and availability to those I serve. I hope to continue to be a professional, responsive and trustworthy resource for the community I serve, influencing growth in recreation, the arts, business commerce and the community as a whole.