OCEAN CITY – Donna Moore filed nominating petitions Friday to begin her “For our people and our environment” campaign for an at-large seat on Ocean City Council.
There are three at-large seats available in the May 10 election and six candidates have filed to run for those positions. In addition to Moore, candidates include Second Ward Councilman Tom Rotondi, former First Ward Councilman Michael DeVlieger, newcomer John “Tony” Polcini, and incumbent at-large Councilman Peter Madden and Councilwoman Karen Bergman.
When Moore turned in her papers, she was joined by campaign manager Mary Beth Clevenger, treasurer Bill Hartranft and supporter Jeff Taylor.
Moore, a 42-year resident, is known for her environmental advocacy at City Council meetings. In her run for council, she brings experience in citizen involvement with municipal government in past memberships of the Ocean City Shade Tree Committee and the Ocean City Environmental Commission.
During her attendance of Zoning Board meetings she advocated for neighbors affected by zoning variance applications in their neighborhoods.
Since 2017 she has been a member of citizen-action groups OC Flooding Committee and Fairness In Taxes. Her past and continuing years of attendance at City Council meetings and membership with Fairness In Taxes have kept her informed about the municipality and its administration.
In her announcement, Moore said she “remains aware of our citizens’ need for our municipal government’s transparency and fiscal responsibility.”
As climate change continues to raise sea levels, Moore said, she has been involved with the OC Flooding Committee advocating for the municipality’s ongoing capital projects in flood mitigation.
“Being cognizant that our islandwide redevelopment and continued loss of permeable land, particularly in areas of higher elevation, may potentially exacerbate runoff and flooding in adjacent areas of lower elevation,” Moore said she “is aware that this may increase municipal expenditures in flooding mitigation.”
She said she perceives a need to revisit the municipal Master Plan regulations to ascertain that this legislation “effectively reinforces our islandwide climate resilience and protects the quality of life within our neighborhoods, while allowing for responsible redevelopment.”
Moore said her years of research and reading of academic and independent scientists’ peer-reviewed publications on the comprehensive and cumulative detriments of synthetic chemical lawn pesticides enabled the writing of her Pesticides Paper that was presented to City Council in 2019.
Because of her efforts, Ocean City committed to eco-friendly public land management for 2021.
Moore said she will continue her advocacy for “eco-friendly residential lands in our densely developed neighborhoods where one neighbor’s pesticides affect adjacent neighbors; during applications, polluted rain runoff, and flooding contamination of adjacent lands.”
Moore ran for the unexpired term of First Ward Councilman DeVlieger in the municipal election. In a three-way race, Terrence Crowley Jr. was elected to the term. He had been appointed to the position after DeVlieger’s resignation in August 2021.
Moore said during her campaign for the First Ward seat, she listened to residents’ concerns. She said she brings this experience in listening to Ocean City residents to her campaign for councilwoman at-large.