Ocean City Reportedly Unlikely To Fill Outgoing Councilman's Seat

OCEAN CITY, NJ — Antwan McClellan completed his last meeting Thursday as Ocean City councilman before he joins the state assembly. Ocean City Council will reportedly keep McClellan's seat vacant for what would have been the last few months of his term.

McClellan's term as Second Ward representative would have ended June 30. City Council can accept applications for interim candidates to serve those final months, or they can leave his seat vacant.

In either scenario, citizens will vote for a Second Ward council member on May 12. Read more: Ocean City Councilman Elected To NJ Assembly: What Happens Next

City Council is unlikely to appoint a replacement, McClellan and Council President Peter Madden told The Press of Atlantic City. Patch will update the article with any official confirmation from the city.

Direct appointment to city council involves several steps that can take months. Council would accept applications for interim candidates and then conduct interviews with candidates in executive session. Then City Council would discuss and vote for an appointment at a public meeting.

Ocean City Council consists of three at-large members and four ward representatives. All four ward positions will be up for election May 12.

Candidates have until March 9 to file petitions with the city clerk and get on the May ballot. New terms will begin July 1. Ocean City's elections are nonpartisan.

The following members represent each ward:

• First Ward: Michael DeVlieger; Longport Bridge to north side of 4th Street.
• Second Ward: McClellan's seat; south side of 4th Street to north side of 12th Street.
• Third Ward: Tony Wilson; south side of 12th Street to north side of 26th Street.
• Fourth Ward: Bobby Barr; south side of 26th Street to 59th Street, including Ocean Reef.

McClellan served Ocean City's Second Ward on City Council since 2012. He was elected Nov. 5 to represent the 1st District on the New Jersey General Assembly.

City Council and Mayor Jay Gillian praised McClellan at Thursday's council meeting. McClellan and several other Ocean City officials got choked up while discussing his time with the city.

“I was not going to cry, but I blew it,” McClellan joked.

Watch the full City Council meeting below:

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