City Council Candidates Share Their Views In Forum

OCEAN CITY, NJ — City Council candidates had the chance to share their opinions on some of Ocean City's controversial topics on Monday night's candidate forum.

The six City Council candidates running for three at-large spots spoke directly following the mayoral forum. Read More: Ocean City Mayoral Candidates Discuss Goals In Candidate Forum

The candidates are:

• Tom Rotondi (Second Ward Councilman)
• Karen Bergman (incumbent)
• John 'Tony P' Polcini
• Michael DeVlieger (former First Ward Councilman)
• Pete Madden (incumbent)
• Donna Moore

Newcomers had their chance to share why they believe their voice is needed, while incumbents and present councilmembers explained why they should continue representing Ocean City residents.

As with the mayoral forum, the night was spent discussing topics such as wind farms and alcohol in the dry town.

One question was about the recent legalization of recreational marijuana and how candidates would work with law enforcement to keep boardwalks safe.

"Ocean City's a dry town," Rotondi said. "Ocean City will always be a dry town, as long as I'm here. Whether it's recreational marijuana or alcohol."

Rotondi said he met with the chief of police and that the Council works with the police in every way possible. He said that the key is working with whatever the chief needs.

Rotondi added that he doesn't want marijuana around children as he fears normalizing it.

Polcini, a political newcomer, agreed. "I would never want to see that in front of my children at all," he said. He also agreed with listening to the chief and asking the residents what their views are.

Polcini also suggested offering alternative activities for children so they don't think about doing drugs. He emphasized keeping Ocean City's clean and safe image.

DeVlieger, who stepped down in August from the Council due to a family emergency, also agreed with listening to the chief. "I don't want it sold in Ocean City, at all, period," he said of legal recreational marijuana sales.

"We have our freedoms at home," Moore said, but said that as Ocean City is a dry town and the Boardwalk is non-smoking, that those substances should be only used on private lands.

"We have to stay the course that we're on," Moore said.

Madden said raising the budget for the police department and hiring new officers will help lessen the risk of recreational marijuana usage in Ocean City.

Bergman said that it starts with "education, communication and community involvement." She emphasized that becoming more involved is how things get fixed.

"It starts in the community," Bergman said.

Alcohol sales and BYOB were also brought up.

When asked if the candidates support BYOB and alcohol sales in Ocean City, DeVlieger and Polcini both gave a simple "no."

Madden said he is not in favor as Ocean City's brand is being a dry town.

Moore again repeated the idea of staying with what Ocean City has. BYOB could open the door to further alcohol sales, she said, and since Ocean City is a dry town, it should remain so.

Bergman, who serves on the tourism commission, said people come to Ocean City because it is one of the only places in the U.S. where you will not see alcohol. "I am vehemently against BYOB or selling alcohol in Ocean City," she said.

"I'm against it, a hundred percent," Rotondi said. He said the younger generation raising children on the island want to keep it that way.

Another controversial question was what position should the Council take on the Ocean Wind 1 project. Candidates voiced their disapproval of the project.

Polcini said he hopes that the farm will be put out far enough away that residents will not have to see it.

"It's something that I want to learn more about," he said, explaining that he did not have a lot of knowledge about the project.

Policini said he knows that the town needs energy, and that there is not much control over the project, but hopes that it will not negatively affect the town.

"What I'm simply saying is, they (the Council) should do anything and everything to stop it," DeVlieger said. "All means necessary."

He said that the idea that there was nothing to be done about the project is "nonsense."

"We have to sue them, we have to fight with them, we have to protest them, we've got to do whatever we need to do," DeVlieger said.

Moore said that there needs to be open communication with Orsted and the Ocean Wind 1 project. Moore, an environmentalist, said she will advocate for the community and seek definitive answers when it comes to the decommissioning of expended turbines.

"I don't think anyone wants to see a giant wind turbine in their backyard," Madden said.

"Do I want to see the windmills? No," Madden said. "Do I want clean energy? Yes." He added that the Council has to do what's best for Ocean City. Madden said that they have to see what benefits they can get from the company for the community.

"Let's do the best we can with what we have to work with," he said.

"Personally, I am not for windmills," Bergman said. This is because no one knows what the true impact on the ocean environment is, she said.

She added that there are more ways to produce clean energy.

"I'm fighting it tooth and nail," Rotondi said, added that wind farms are "the worst green energy out there."

"It's not green for us," he said.

You can watch the entirety of the forum here.