By MADDY VITALE
Longtime resident and former restaurant owner Paul Stryker has turned in his nominating petitions to run for the Second Ward City Council seat in Ocean City.
On Friday, Stryker, a realtor at Fox Real Estate in Ocean City, and about 25 supporters arrived at City Hall to hand in his petitions to City Clerk Melissa Rasner for the seat, according to a news release.
Former Councilman Keith Hartzell is also running for the Second Ward seat and turned in his petitions earlier this month.
Stryker, who, along with his wife, Arlene, formerly owned Arlene’s Restaurant in Ocean City, wants to “represent and help the residents of the Second Ward with their everyday city-related issues,” he said in the release.
Stryker said that if elected he intends “to be approachable and available through ward meetings, email or phone calls, to understand the concerns and challenges of the residents of the Second Ward.”
Currently, Councilman Tom Rotondi represents the Second Ward. Rotondi took out petitions but has not turned them in as of yet. Candidates have until Feb. 29 to submit their nominating petitions, according to Rasner.
Stryker said he “believes the Second Ward is in need of a fresh new voice – a voice familiar with the Second Ward as a resident, parent and business manager.”
He said in the release that he thinks he would be the right candidate because of his many years of managing Arlene’s Restaurant on Asbury Avenue.
During the time managing the restaurant, he gained a perspective on the issues of the residents and business owners on the island, he noted.
“It’s amazing how the restaurant was a ‘Cheers type’ of community gathering spot where people sat and talked about the goings on in Ocean City,” Stryker said.
Although Arlene was the front person and personality of Arlene’s, Paul was the chef and ran the back end of the business. He kept a finger on the pulse of not only the cyclical aspects of the Ocean City market, but also on the ups and downs of the economy as a whole, according to the release.
He was responsible for managing the kitchen, hiring of employees, payroll and inventory. Through his experience managing a restaurant, he learned when to spend money for smart business growth or cut back to get through a downturn or unforeseen event like Superstorm Sandy and the COVID-19 pandemic, the release stated.
Those experiences have taught him how to be frugal, he said. And if elected, he said he would bring “that quickly reactive business sense to Ocean City government.”
The Strykers have two sons, Jake and Paulie. They have hosted a fundraiser for 20 years in memory of Arlene’s son, Charles Knox, who died in a car crash in 1998. They call it “The Charles Knox Comedy Night” and have raised over $200,000 to go to a scholarship fund for Ocean City students.
In 1992, the couple moved into their home on Seventh Street, where they raised their children.
Their children both still live in Ocean City and work locally.
“Our roots in Ocean City are deep and thank the Lord our children have decided to keep Ocean City part of the family tree for a least another generation,” Stryker said. “That was the final piece of the puzzle that convinced me that now was the time to enter city service to ensure that Ocean City is a safe, clean and family-oriented community for many years into the future.”
In addition to the Second Ward seat, the other three ward seats are up for election for full four-year terms. Stryker and Hartzell will battle for the Second Ward seat.
First Ward Councilman Terry Crowley Jr. was the first candidate to turn in his petitions. Fourth Ward Councilman David Winslow turned his in as well. Third Ward Councilman Jody Levchuk turned in his petitions. Second Ward Councilman Rotondi took out petitions, but has not yet announced his intentions for the election.
In addition to the ward seats, there is a vacancy that was created by the resignation of At-Large Councilwoman Karen Bergman. Bergman stepped down in January to become the supervisor of the Stainton Senior Center.
There will be a spot on the election ballot for candidates seeking to fill Bergman’s unexpired term through 2026. Former First Ward Councilman Mike DeVlieger has turned in his petitions to run for the at-large seat.
Another Council candidate, Sean Barnes, confirmed his intention to run for the at-large seat and has taken out petitions, but has not yet returned them to the City Clerk.
