Elections 2016: Who's Running for Council in Ocean City?

Ocean City, NJ -- The May 10 non-partisan elections will produce a new council person in the Fourth Ward, and two people are running in the special election for an at-large seat.

Councilmen in the First, Second and Third wards are all running uncontested following the 4 p.m. deadline to run in the elections Monday afternoon.

Karen Bergman, who was unanimously appointed in October to fill the seat left vacant when former Council Vice President Michael Allegretto was appointed by Mayor Jay Gillian as the new Director of Community Services, will run against H. Lloyd Hayes III in the special election. The winner will be seated immediately, and will serve until the next regular election for at-large seats in 2018.

Bergman originally served on council from 2008-12, and was Council Vice President from 2010-2012.

Hayes, a long-time Ocean City resident, U.S. Navy Veteran, teacher, swimming coach, and school board member, turned in his nominating petitions on Monday. The 67-year-old was a former small business owner for 23 years, and spent 21 years as an Ocean City High School teacher. Hayes also served on the Ocean City School Board for six years.

In the Fourth Ward, Peter Guinosso decided not to run for re-election this year, but three people are in contention for his seat.

One potential replacement is Bart Russell, a Vietnam War veteran, a 1964 graduate of Ocean City High School, and a former school board member. He is also a former school board member in Lower Township and was vice president of the Cape May County School Board. He taught at Cape May Tech for 10 years.

Another is Ocean City Democratic Club President Bob Barr. Barr is also the president of the Ocean City Community Association and was approved to serve on the Pinelands Commission last year. He grew up in Ocean City, graduating from Ocean City High School in 1999. He graduated from The Richard Stockton College of New Jersey in 2004 with a degree in communications.

Former Ocean City Board of Education President Brenda Moiso is also pursuing the seat. She served on the school board a total of nine years, and has been a resident of Ocean City for 32 years. She and her husband own two Philly Pretzel Factory stores, including one on the Ocean City Boardwalk.

First Ward Councilman Michael DeVlieger, Second Ward Councilman Antwan McClellan and Third Ward Councilman Anthony Wilson will each run unopposed in their respective May 10 election.

The last day to register to vote is April 19.