OCEAN CITY – Former First Ward Councilman Michael DeVlieger was the first person to turn in his petition to run in the May 10 election.
The City Clerk’s Office has not yet reviewed it.
DeVlieger is seeking one of three at-large seats.
Five others have taken out petitions – two incumbent at-large council members, Pete Madden and Karen Bergman; sitting Second Ward Councilman Tomaso Rotondi; Donna Moore, who ran in November for the First Ward seat; and John A. “Tony” Polcini.
The longest-serving at-large councilman, Keith Hartzell, chose not to seek re-election to his council seat.
Hartzell has taken out petitions to run against incumbent Jay Gillian for mayor. Hartzell announced his plans to run for mayor in September. Gillian had a campaign kickoff on Sunday, Jan. 23.
DeVlieger resigned from his First Ward seat in August. Terrence Crowley Jr. was appointed to fill his position and then was elected to it in the November election.
Petitions are due in the City Clerk’s Office by Monday, March 7.
Candidates have to get 97 valid signatures of registered Ocean City voters – 1 percent of the number of registered voters in the latest election, which Ocean City put at 9,654.
The last day to register to vote in the May 10 election is April 19.
By DAVID NAHAN/Sentinel staff
