Much of his spending covers slate including Bergman and Polcini
OCEAN CITY — Incumbent Councilman Pete Madden has raised the most money in the six-person campaign for three at-large seats on Ocean City Council.
Madden is running on a slate with fellow incumbent Karen Bergman and newcomer John “Tony P” Polcini.
Also running in the May 10 election are Second Ward Councilman Tom Rotondi, former First Ward councilman Michael DeVlieger and Donna Moore, who last ran in November for the First Ward seat that was won by Terrence Crowley Jr.
Madden has reported raising $25,442 and spending $16,382 as of the April 11 report.
Much of his spending seems to also cover Bergman and Polcini because they are featured in the advertising campaign for all three.
He had $4,442 in contributions of $300 or less and $28,000 in contributions over $300, minus a refund of $7,000 apparently given in error.
Madden’s biggest donations come from developers and realtors. Madden is part owner of the Goldcoast Sotheby’s International Realty at 34th Street in Ocean City.
The lion’s share of his donations come from Eustace and Julie Mita of Icona Resorts. They list their personal address at Media, Pa., and business addresses of Icona Resorts in Wildwood and Mita Management of Chester, Pa. Eustace Mita invested with Mayor Jay Gillian’s family to save Wonderland Pier, which was in financial trouble. (In Gillian’s financial reports, there are no donations from the Mita family or Icona Resorts employees.)
The Mitas gave $4,000 to Madden in two separate $2,000 donations. They also had a $7,000 donation that was refunded because it was apparently donated in error.
Pam and Marc Cerceo of Medford, who list Icona Resorts as their employer, donated $2,000.
Marc Robbins of Wildwood Crest, also employed by Icona Resorts, donated $1,500.
Emily Wilkins of Margate, employed by Goldcoast, donated $1,000, and Susan and Burton Wilkins of Beesleys Point, also employed by Goldcoast, donated $1,000, as did Burton Wilkins III of Ocean City, who also listed Goldcoast as his employer.
Donating $1,000 each to the Madden campaign were Caliber Home Loans of Northfield; Blagoj Vaneglov of Linwood (employed by Shriver’s Candies of Ocean City); Michael Smith of Orzo Construction of Medford; the Realtors Political Action Committee of Hamilton; Christine Osisek of Paoli, Pa. (employed by Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices, Fox & Roach); and state Assemblyman Antwan McClellan.
Tom Londres of Mount Laurel, employed by Metro Commercial Real Estate, contributed $2,500.
Among those donating $500 were Michael Croce of Pat Croce and Co.; Elizabeth and Davis Liess of Wesley Avenue, Ocean City; Damon Brady of Ocean City (employed by BHHS Fox & Roach); and Richard and Deborah Booth of Ocean City (retired).
Bergman, who is running on a slate with Madden and Polcini, reported two donations of $500 each from Barbara and Joseph Stefano of Asbury Avenue, Ocean City, and Maureen and Michael Clark of Philadelphia, Pa.
Polcini has reported raising $3,760 as of the April 11 report and not spending any of it.
He reported $2,260 in donations less than $300 that were not categorized. He received $1,000 from Patrick O’Hara of Wayne, Pa. (employed by Uncle Bill’s Pancake House) and James L. Sullivan of Philadelphia (employed by Sullivan’s Scrap Metal).
Rotondi has reported raising $5,860 and spending $4,027 as of his April 11 filing.
Of his total, $1,734 came in contributions of less than $300.
He received two $1,000 donations, one from Vince Polistina for Senate and the other from Chris Glancey of Glancey Enterprises of Sea Isle City.
Other donations came from Gregg Balin (retired) of Cape Coral, Fla., $301; Dolores Hall of Newport (employed by South Clam Co. of Cape May), $500; Alison Murphy of Cape May Court House (employed by U.S. Rep. Jeff Van Drew), $500; Edward Price of Marmora (employed by Computer Service & Support of Linwood), $325; and Patrick Rosenallo of North Wildwood (employed by the City of Wildwood), $500.
DeVlieger did not have any contributions or contribution report listed as of April 21.
Moore did not have any reports filed.
Expenditures
The bulk of expenditures listed by Madden were for advertising and marketing — $6,000 to Interstate Outdoor of Cherry Hill; $5,369 to The Printing Company in Somers Point; $3,500 to Media Wise of Asbury Avenue, Ocean City; and $600 to Buddy’s Ice Cream Truck of Clermont.
Bergman’s and Polcini’s names appear on the advertising done for Madden on billboards and other materials.
Rotondi’s spending includes $3,288 for Checkmate Strategies of Red Bank and $738 to Square One Design of Cape May.
– By DAVID NAHAN/Sentinel staff