Jim Kelly is running for one of three at-large seats in the May 12 municipal election for City Council. (Courtesy of Jim Kelly campaign)
The co-founder of a community group that has been one of the most outspoken opponents of a proposed luxury hotel on the Ocean City Boardwalk announced Tuesday that he is running for City Council in the May municipal election.
Jim Kelly, a full-time resident of Ocean City for more than 20 years, said in a campaign statement that he is promising to bring “thoughtful planning, fiscal responsibility, transparency and stronger public engagement” to local government.
“Ocean City doesn’t need more politics-as-usual – it needs steady, experienced leadership grounded in integrity. I bring decades of business experience building consensus among people with different viewpoints. I’m ready to apply that experience here at home – with transparency, discipline, and a commitment to listening,” Kelly said.
Three at-large City Council seats are up for election on May 12. Incumbent Councilmen Pete Madden, Sean Barnes and Tony Polcini are facing re-election, but had not yet submitted their nominating petitions as of Tuesday afternoon, City Clerk Melissa Rasner said.
Candidates are facing a deadline of 4 p.m. Thursday to submit their petitions. As of Tuesday afternoon, only Kelly and mayoral candidate Keith Hartzell had submitted petitions, Rasner said.
Hartzell currently serves as the Second Ward councilman, but will challenge Mayor Jay Gillian in the municipal election in a repeat of their 2022 matchup that saw Gillian defeat Hartzell by 395 votes. Gillian has formally announced that he is seeking re-election this year.
Kelly, meanwhile, is a new face to Ocean City politics, but not to the community. In his campaign announcement, he cited his family roots in town and involvement in local groups.
Kelly and his wife, Donna, have been married for nearly four decades and have two sons, both graduates of Ocean City High School and state surfing champions.
“Ocean City isn’t just where I live – it’s where my wife and I chose to raise our family, where our sons grew up, went to school, and where we’ve all built lifelong friendships,” he said in his campaign statement. “This community has given us so much. I’m running to give back and to help ensure Ocean City remains strong, family-friendly, and financially responsible for the next generation.”
Jim Kelly, left, seated next to City Councilman Jody Levchuk, is a member of a subcommittee studying the zoning and development options for the Boardwalk's commercial zones.Kelly is the co-founder of Ocean City 2050, a grassroots organization that has pushed for more government transparency and civic engagement in the community. But as part of his campaign announcement, he said he has stepped down as president and director of Ocean City 2050 “to ensure a clear and complete separation between the organization and his campaign.”
Most notably, Ocean City 2050 has been strongly opposed to plans by developer Eustace Mita to turn the site of the former Wonderland Pier amusement park into a $150 million luxury resort hotel.
The project continues to be debated by city officials while Mita tries to line up the approvals to build the 252-room Boardwalk hotel. In its opposition, Ocean City 2050 has maintained that the seven-story hotel would overwhelm the surrounding neighborhoods and would not blend in with the town’s family-friendly image.
Kelly is also a member of a Boardwalk subcommittee that is studying the zoning and future development options of the Boardwalk’s commercial zones from Sixth to 14th streets.
City Council President Terry Crowley Jr. formed the nine-member subcommittee in October to analyze the entire Boardwalk’s commercial zones, not just the former Wonderland Pier site. The subcommittee is expected to make its recommendations sometime this spring.
Kelly will continue in his role as a member of the Boardwalk subcommittee during his campaign for City Council.
“My involvement in Ocean City 2050 and the Boardwalk Subcommittee has reinforced my belief that when residents are informed and invited into the conversation, governments make better decisions. Transparency and engagement aren’t optional. They’re essential to building trust and making decisions that truly serve the whole community,” he said in his statement.
Professionally, Kelly serves as vice president of business strategy and administration for the Erickson Senior Living-managed communities. He said his 43-year career in the business world will help guide him in his foray into local government politics.
“In my professional life, I’ve learned that the best outcomes come from bringing everyone to the table early, listening carefully, and working through differences in the open,” he said. “I’ve led projects where residents, local officials, and private stakeholders didn’t always agree at the start – but by focusing on data, dialogue, and long-term impact, we found solutions rooted in common ground. That’s the kind of leadership I will bring to Ocean City.”
More information about Kelly and his candidacy can be found on his website at Jim Kelly for Council.
