OCEAN CITY – Michael DeVlieger, previously elected three times as Ocean City’s First Ward councilman, was the first to file his petitions to run for one of three at-large council seats in the May 10 election.
DeVlieger, 55, stepped down from his seat in August 2020, citing a “family crisis,” but said that has been resolved and he wants to continue serving.
“My family’s crisis has been addressed. I once again have clear eyes and a full heart, and I am prepared to pick up where I left off. I feel comfortable re-entering public life and resuming my passion to serve the people of Ocean City,” he said in a press release.
DeVlieger won his first election in 2012 over a popular opponent, Fred Hoffman. “Fred and I became friends and he taught me things that I would never have thought of without his insight,” DeVlieger said. In 2016 and 2020, DeVlieger ran unopposed and served on council until he said life’s pressures and time constraints forced his resignation.
“Even though I ran unopposed in my last two elections, one of my favorite aspects of the job has always been meeting with individuals and community groups,” he said. “I get a kick out of helping people solve their challenges. I sincerely hope that we have numerous debates and get a chance to engage with the public to discuss the issues that they feel are important in Ocean City.”
DeVlieger’s main full-time job is in executive and technical search, a career in which he has 30 years of experience. He is a talent acquisition partner for a global consulting organization. He was also an early investor in MediaWize, a company that operates regional news publications.
As a councilman, DeVlieger was most recently known as an outspoken critic of the proposed offshore wind farms. He supported reducing the use of chemical pesticides on landscaping on Ocean City’s playgrounds and other public areas, an issue brought before council by resident Donna Moore, who also is running as one of the six candidates for Ocean City Council.
DeVlieger said he opposes the wind farms because he sees them as a threat to Ocean City’s tourism, real estate values, rentals, marine environment, commercial fishing and the overall quality of the beach and ocean experience.
“We have the best beach and boardwalk in the country, according to numerous articles and surveys,” he said. “Why would we want to build an industrial park at sea in front of them?”
Ocean Wind 1, a joint venture of Danish company Ørsted and PSEG, proposes up to 99 massive wind turbines 15 miles off the coast of Cape May and Atlantic counties.
DeVlieger also has been an outspoken advocate for keeping taxes as reasonable as possible while not abandoning his commitment for investment in the city’s infrastructure needs.
“I am running for council again because I want to make a difference for our community,” he said. “I made a difference when I was on council, and I promise to do it again. I am an independent voice. I liked my colleagues and the administration. That was never a factor in my voting. I vote and promote for what is best for Ocean City and our future: Family values, reasonable taxes, safety, cleanliness, properly maintained infrastructure and respect for our environment.”
DeVlieger is a graduate of the University of Pennsylvania, Wharton School of Business, and has bachelor’s degrees in marketing and management. He is the father of two children, Flynn, 18, and Reagan, 16, both of whom will be acting as his campaign managers. He is the son of Louis DeVlieger, a WWII Navy veteran, and Susan DeVlieger, a dedicated mother to Michael and his nine brothers and sisters.
He is a passionate advocate for the city’s youth as the main council voice in favor of a public skateboard park. His efforts helped make the park a $750,000 reality about five years ago. Two thirds of the cost was reimbursed to Ocean City by a grant program run by Cape May County, because of an effort that DeVlieger spearheaded. The balance of the cost was easily covered by the parking revenue that was generated by the 40-plus parking spots created on the location of the previous skate park.
“Kids need things to do in their spare time, and this is a healthy activity,” he said. “There is only a small percentage of kids that make the prominent sports teams, but virtually every kid can participate in skating. It promotes self-awareness, practice, determination and freedom of expression. On any given day you will see beginners through advanced level skaters enjoying the park in harmony. It has been great for tourism and for public relations for the city.”