By MADDY VITALE
Third Ward Councilman Jody Levchuk filed his nominating petitions for the Ocean City municipal election May 14.
By all accounts, Levchuk has had an extremely busy first term – especially for someone who is new to elected politics.
Levchuk, co-owner of the Jilly’s Boardwalk and downtown shops, has plenty more he wants to accomplish, which is why he would like to serve another four-year term on Council. Flood mitigation, parking issues, and overdevelopment top his list of things he will continue to focus on improving, he said.
The Third Ward is an area that stretches from the south side of 12th Street to the north side of 26th Street.
Levchuk’s campaign slogan is “Proven Independent Leadership Working For You.”
“I have unique neighborhoods within my ward. There are a lot of homes on the bay and the beach and there are bulkhead and dredging issues. I also have a section of businesses on Asbury Avenue,” Levchuk noted. “There are certainly a lot of issues, but as a businessman, I feel as if I have a substantial advantage of understanding the residents and their issues.”
Levchuk turned in his nominating petitions Friday to City Clerk Melissa Rasner accompanied by his supporters, which included his wife, Jill, and their two daughters, Leni, 10, and 9-year-old Jordyn, as well as Holly Kisby, Drew Fasy and Aimee Schultz.
Council candidates must submit their nominating petitions by Feb. 29 to be eligible to run in the May 14 municipal election.
Levchuk noted that he did not think twice about running for another term.
He wants to continue his focus on projects.
“Upon taking office, I was notified by many residents on West 17th street of their concerns over flooding and old infrastructure below the streets,” he said. “From day one of my taking office, I got to work for those residents and got major improvements to their neighborhood unanimously approved by Council. This included raising the road and all new infrastructure for water, gas and sewer.”
Levchuk has been unanimously appointed as liaison of the Planning Board twice since elected to Council.
“Over the years I have become very mindful to such topics such as over development and loopholes for variances,” he said. “When I came to learn about some of the selfish overdevelopment practices that were taking place in many of our neighborhoods, I worked with Council and the administration to help change that.”
Parking is always an issue, he pointed out.
“It’s no secret that parking is a major issue, not just at our Boardwalk and downtown, but in many of our neighborhoods as well,” he said.
So, Levchuk got to work. Over the last couple of years he formed a Parking Committee, got a parking structure feasibility study completed, helped pass legislation and met with other city officials “many times to discuss a new parking initiative.”
“To help alleviate some of the parking challenges we also started a pilot program of citywide Jitney service,” he noted. “I will continue to push for better, creative parking ideas.”
One of his biggest accomplishments while on Council was his work to quell rowdy teens on the Boardwalk over the past three summers.
In 2023, Council adopted an emergency ordinance in June of 2023 and imposed an 11 p.m. juvenile curfew, people had to be off the beaches by 8 p.m., no backpacks were allowed after t8 p.m. and the Boardwalk bathrooms were closed by 10 p.m.
“As a lifelong resident and Boardwalk business owner in Ocean City, I am very sensitive to our brand and family fun environment. Unfortunately, COVID time created some issues with juveniles flooding our town with pop up beach parties and other things that were slowly but surely destroying our brand,” Levchuk said. “I worked very hard and publicly put myself out there to do everything and anything in my power to put a handle on these juvenile issues that were plaguing our city for a few years. We prevailed.”
As a member of the Boardwalk Merchants Association he helped with the addition of more restrooms on the Boardwalk.
“What you now see on our Boardwalk are two very convenient, clean restroom facilities located at 10th and 11th streets,” he noted.
In addition to the Third Ward seat, the other three ward seats are up for election for full four-year terms. 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.
Second Ward Councilman Tom Rotondi took out petitions but has not turned them in as of yet.
There is a vacancy that was created by the resignation of At-Large Councilwoman Karen Bergman. Bergman stepped down to take a new job as supervisor of Ocean City’s senior citizens 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 Thursday to run for the at-large seat.
