Meet the Candidate: Karen Bergman

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.

With our Fourth Ward profiles wrapped up, we move on to candidates for the at-large seat, beginning with Councilwoman Karen Bergman.

Why are you running?

I am running for council at large to be a voice for the people. The people of Ocean City deserve to have great representation, and I pledge to provide that representation.

What do you feel are the most pressing issues?

The most pressing issues are threefold:

1. Infrastructure repairs, including flooding and dredging;

2. The beautification of the Ocean City gateways; and

3. Open and honest discourse of government.

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

As part of the current council, I strive to be the bridge between residents, businesses and the administration. I believe communication between the council and the people we represent is most important.

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

I believe the most positive thing the current council, which includes myself, is doing right now is allocating funds for an aggressive capital plan over the next five years. I am very proud to be a part of this plan with a very minimal tax increase.

What do you bring to council that on one else can bring?

Experience! I was privileged to serve on council for the Second Ward from 2008 to 2012. That experience provided me with the ability to hit the ground running when I was unanimously appointed to council in October to fill the unexpired term of Michael Allegretto. I felt extremely confident in my expertise to ask the tough questions and demand results for the taxpayers of Ocean City.

What is your political background?

As previously stated, I served as councilwoman for the Second Ward from 2008 - 2012. During my tenure, I was Vice President of Council from July of 2010 through July of 2011. I also served on behalf of my fellow council members as their representative on the Tourism Board, the BAND Board and the Ocean City Chamber of Commerce.

Personal Background

I have worked as the Director of Catering at The Flanders Hotel since January of 2010, and have worked in the service industry since 1995. I graduated from Penn State University in 1981. In addition to serving as a Second Ward Councilwoman, and on the Tourism Board, BAND Board and Ocean City Chamber of Commerce, I've served on the Cape May County Chamber of Commerce