By DONALD WITTKOWSKI
Political newcomer Sean Barnes turned in his nominating petitions Monday to run for an at-large seat on City Council in Ocean City’s May 14 municipal election.
Barnes submitted his paperwork to City Clerk Melissa Rasner while his family members, friends and campaign backers joined him at City Hall in a show of support. They included his twin brother, Kevin Barnes, who serves as president of the Ocean City Board of Education.
Among Barnes’ supporters were Mayor Jay Gillian, Council President Pete Madden and former Councilwoman Karen Bergman, whose resignation from the governing body in January to become a supervisor at the city’s Howard S. Stainton Senior Center has opened up an at-large Council seat for the election.
Barnes and former First Ward Councilman Mike DeVlieger are the only candidates so far to file nominating petitions to run for Bergman’s old seat, which expires in 2026. The filing deadline for candidates is 4 p.m. Thursday.
The election also includes the Council seats in Ocean City’s First, Second, Third and Fourth wards. So far, First Ward Councilman Terry Crowley Jr., Third Ward Councilman Jody Levchuk and Fourth Ward Councilman Dave Winslow are the incumbents who have turned in their nominating petitions.
Second Ward Councilman Tom Rotondi has taken out his petitions but has not yet returned them to the City Clerk’s Office.
Other candidates who have submitted their paperwork include former Councilman Keith Hartzell in the Second Ward, realtor and former restaurant owner Paul Stryker in the Second Ward and pool and spa company owner Amie Vaules in the Third Ward.
Meanwhile, the at-large race is Barnes’ first foray into elected politics. He touched on his newcomer status in a statement outlining his reasons for wanting to join City Council.
“I am running for Ocean City councilman at-large because it is time that we bring new energy, vision, and common sense to our city government. As a lifelong resident, I care deeply about our community. I will bring new energy and support new ideas that allow Ocean City to remain a vibrant, safe and welcoming community for all of our residents and visitors,” he said.
Strengthening the local economy, maintaining Ocean City’s reputation as “America’s Greatest Family Resort” and preserving the shore’s environment will be central themes of his campaign, he said.
“Ocean City is like no other place in the world, but the challenges are real. We have a unique environment that must be protected. Our economy needs to be strong and we must do all that we can to preserve our shore way of life in America’s Greatest Family Resort – our home,” he said.
Underscoring that platform, Barnes unveiled his campaign slogan, “Preserving Our Shore Way of Life.”
“From the beach to bay, the protection of our environment is paramount to preserving our way of life in Ocean City,” he said. “I will work hard to keep our beaches clean and our ocean pristine. I will also continue the fight to keep our back bay safe and navigable, and I will bring new energy and support new ideas to preserve our beaches, marshlands, waterways, open space and parks.”
Barnes also stressed his support for Ocean City’s merchants by calling them “a vital part of our community.”
“They contribute to the character of our island, and their goods and services sustain us. This includes our merchants on the Boardwalk, Asbury Avenue, and all of the side streets and neighborhoods in Ocean City. I will bring new energy and support new ideas to help our merchants and promote year-round operations,” he said.
Barnes, 64, currently works as a director at Enterprise Community Asset Management Inc., a financial company that helps investors to build affordable housing developments in distressed areas of the country.
He is also a Coast Guard licensed boat captain and owner of Sail Atlantic LLC, a local sailing charter business that provides excursions, including sunset cruises, coastal cruising, and corporate/employee team-building opportunities.
Barnes lives on Revere Place overlooking Snug Harbor, a tiny lagoon framed by Eighth and Ninth streets. He has served as the president of the Snug Harbor Association, a group representing the lagoon homeowners.
“I have a track record of getting things done for our community. For example, as president of Snug Harbor Association, our lagoon neighborhood in Ocean City, I sounded the alarm and successfully led the charge for action when our waterway had become unsafe and not navigable,” Barnes said.
Snug Harbor has a history of being clogged by muddy sediment buildup, making it difficult for local boaters to navigate the waterway. The city routinely includes Snug Harbor as one of the locations it dredges to remove sediment and deepen the lagoon for boating.
In his campaign statement, Barnes also noted that he is a lifelong parishioner at St. Damien Parish in Ocean City and currently serves as Eucharistic minister, lector, and musician with the St. Damien Parish choir.
“I am passionate about my faith community,” he said of his involvement in the church.
For more information about Sean Barnes and his campaign, visit www.barnesforoceancity.com
