Meet the Candidate: H. Lloyd Hayes III

The non-partisan municipal elections on May 10 will decide the four ward seats on the seven-member Ocean City Council. The winners will serve four-year terms.

Ocean City Patch asked each candidate to complete a questionnaire outlining biographical information, their platform and their stands on a handful of issues.

This week, Patch will run profiles of all the candidates who responded, beginning with the Fourth Ward, and proceeding in alphabetical order.

Profiles are presented here in the same format as the questionnaires given to the candidates. There were no further instructions, and none of the responses has been edited (beyond basic proofreading and formatting). Readers can make their own judgments on how the candidates did or didn't answer the questions.

Our profiles conclude today with H. Lloyd Hayes III, who is running in the special election for the council at-large seat.

Why are you running?

I'm running because there is an open seat on city council. I believe I am the stronger, harder working candidate running in this election based on my past experience in the Navy, on the Planning Board, School Board, City Council, 31 years of teaching, 15 years of coaching within the city of Ocean City, being a Small Business Owner, and getting my Master +60 while doing all this.

What do you feel are the most pressing issues?

I believe the most pressing issues are keeping the tax rate stable while still providing quality services to our residents, with an emphasis on flood control, both on the beach front and back bays, and concentrating on streets and the infrastructure under them, which results in the flooding issue.

What changes would you make to what the current council is doing?

I don't think one person can change anything without the cooperation of the other members of the current council. I believe working together with the the current council in a respectful, professional manner is the effective way to accomplish positive goals for our city.

What are some of the positive things you believe the current council is doing?

I believe the current council is trying to work on issues that were left to them by past administrations to the best of their abilities.

What do you bring to council that no one else can bring. i.e. strengths, experience, etc?

I believe I am the stronger, harder working candidate due to my life experiences from all the things listed in question 1 and 7."

What offices have you held/run for in the past?

Council Member, School Board, Planning Board, Mayors Advisory Council on Physical Fitness, President of the Teacher Association

Personal Background

I earned a Bachelor's Degree in education and the industrial arts from Temple University, a Master's Degree from Mary Grove College and my Master's +60. I was the head crew coach at Stockton University, and the head swim coach at Mainland and Ocean City high schools. I was the owner/operator of Hayes Waterway Marina from 1983-2005. I served two stints as president of the Ocean City Teacher's Union, was an Ocean City School Board Member from 2006-2013, and was a First Ward Councilman from January-November of 2000. I was on the Planning Board from 2005-07, a member of the Mayor's Advisory Council on Physical Fitness, and was a founding member of Bike OCNJ.