ELEC reports show how much each raised, major donors, what votes cost
OCEAN CITY — Candidates running in the Ocean City Council election May 14 spent a collective $100,074 in their successful — and unsuccessful — bids for office.
For a city with a 2024 budget of $113 million, the total spent on the 2024 City Council election amounts to about 0.001 percent. A city council member earns $20,000 per year.
There were five seats up for grabs — the four ward seats and the remaining two years of a four-year at-large term.
According to the documents filed by the candidates with the New Jersey Election Law Enforcement Commission, and the ELEC Data Search System, the winners did not always out-spend the losers and two candidates didn’t spend a dime.
One of those frugal incumbents won — Terry Crowley Jr. in the First Ward, who ran unopposed. The other one lost — Michael DeVlieger, falling to Sean Barnes who spent just over $10,500 but also got the most value for his money at $5.74 per vote.
The most expensive race was the most hotly contested — the Third Ward. Incumbent Jody Levchuk and challenger Amie Vaules spent a combined $35,226 in a race that came down to 402 votes for Levchuk and 400 for Vaules.
Levchuk also spent the most overall — $27,703 — and the most per vote — $68.92. He outspent Vaules nearly 3.5 to 1.
The Second Ward race was the most balanced for the open seat. Former councilman Keith Hartzell spent $13,776 to challenger Paul Stryker’s $9,592, winning the race 364-312. Hartzell spent about 18 percent more per vote in his winning effort.
The Fourth Ward race was the second most expensive, coming in at $30,939. Challenger Cecilia Gallelli-Keyes outspent incumbent David Winslow more than 2 to 1, but lost 531-392.
Going by the total number of votes cast (ward races versus at-large race), the 2024 City Council election cost between $31.95 and $32.54 per vote cast.
What follows are highlights of the race by the numbers and then a look at the ward races and fundraising by each of the candidates, including major donors and how much they gave.
BY WARD
ELEC reports and data from the site show how much each candidate raised and spent. The reports also show the major contributors ($200 or more), where they’re from and how much they gave.
AT LARGE
MICHAEL DeVLIEGER (1,297 votes)
Total spent: $0
Cost per vote: $0
No reports filed. Showing no money raised or spent.
SEAN BARNES
(1,836 votes)
Total spent: $10,538
Cost per vote: $5.74
His treasurer is John A. McCann. In his 20-day post-election report filed June 3, he reported total receipts of $14,852 and total expenditures of $10,538. The ELEC site reports total contributions of $11,698
Major contributors:
Families of Ocean City United For Success PAC, $1,000.
Elaine Goralski, $1,000, Moorestown, Du-More Blade Co.
Ryan Leonard, $500, Brittany Drive, self-employed.
Sean Barnes, $5,048.29 in loans to his campaign, Enterprise Community Asset Management Inc.
David Beyel, $300, Eighth Street, Boulevard Liquors.
Giancarlo Granese, $250, E. Atlantic Ave., Shore Siding.
Denise M. Jessel, $500, Second Street, Fox Real Estate.
Robert Clayton, $1,000, Marmora, retired.
Pete Madden, $500, Asbury Avenue, Goldcoast/Sotheby’s International Realty (City Council president).
William Millar, $300, Egg Harbor Township, Stone Crafters.
Scott Halliday, $500, Anchor Road, Halliday/Leonard.
FIRST WARD
TERRY CROWLEY JR. (Unopposed, 675 votes)
Total spent: $0
Cost per vote: $0
No reports filed. An incumbent, Crowley ran unopposed for his First Ward seat.
SECOND WARD
KEITH HARTZELL
(364 votes)
Total spent: $13,777
Cost per vote: $37.86
In his 20-day post-election report filed May 29, he reported $13,777.96 in expenditures and $14,236 in receipts. The ELEC site lists total contributions of $12,150.
Vincent L. Iannace is listed as his treasurer.
Major contributors:
Keith Hartzell, $8,000.
Jill Levchuk, $2,600, Naples, Fla., JiLLY’s.
Edward Vaughn, $500, Bay Avenue, Barre Vaughn Insurance.
Sam Lavner, $500, West 10th Street, retired.
Helena Hamilton, $300, Asbury Avenue, employed by Could Be Yours Consignment
Marcia McCulley, $250, Beesleys Point, employed by AtlantiCare
Brian Hartley, $200, Westminster Lane.
PAUL STRYKER
(312 votes)
Total spent: $9,592
Cost per vote: $30.75
In his 20-day post-election report filed June 3, he reported total receipts of $16,059 and total expenditures of $9,592. The ELEC site lists total contributions at $10,520.
His treasurer is Carol Keenan.
Major contributors:
Aiden Masisaac, $500, Newtown, Pa., real estate.
Colin Ushkowski, $500, Yardley, Pa., real estate.
Zubare Choudrey, $400, PO Box, Ocean City, Club Carousel Residences.
Pete Madden, $1,726.44 (in-kind direct mail), Asbury Avenue, (City Council president), Goldcoast/Sotheby’s International Realty.
Dean Adams, $500, Bartram Lane, Dean Adams Builders.
Brian Broadley, $500, Marmora, Broadley’s Plumbing, Heating and Air Conditioning.
Rosemarie Savastano, $250, Dory Drive, Ocean City Chamber of Commerce.
Shore Siding Inc., $500, Sixth Street, business owner.
Barbara Stefano, $500, Asbury Avenue, retired.
Victoria Tridente, $350, Asbury Avenue, City of Ocean City.
Mark Benevento, $500, Boardwalk, self-employed.
Alexander Miele, $500, E. Atlantic Boulevard, Adventure Golf South.
Joseph Heenan, $300, Ocean Avenue, business owner C.S.V. & C.S. LLC.
Karen Bergman, $1,100, Asbury Avenue, City of Ocean City (former at-large councilwoman).
Denise M. Jessel, $500, Second Street, Fox Real Estate.
Gary Jessel, $500, Second Street, Fox Real Estate.
THIRD WARD
AMIE VAULES
(400 votes)
Total spent: $7,523
Cost per vote: $18.81
In her 20-day post-election report dated June 11, she showed total receipts of $7,523.
Outstanding loan owed by committee: $1,025.37. The ELEC site shows total contributions of $5,800.02.
She listed Lance Miller of Marshall Lane, Ocean City, as treasurer. In later reports, Vaules was listed as treasurer.
Major donors:
Tony Wilson, 16th Street, Ocean City, owner of Wilson Plumbing, $1,000. (Wilson was the incumbent Third Ward councilman who lost to Levchuk in 2020.)
Erin Gifford, $500, West 17th Street, listed as homemaker, $500.
Allyson Abele, $500, Simpson Avenue, Ocean City, $500, homemaker.
Amelia Chopin, $300, 17th Street, Ocean City, homemaker.
Scott Halliday, $500, Anchor Road, of Halliday/Leonard.
Pete Madden, $500, real estate (City Council president), Asbury Avenue, Ocean City.
James Vaules, $1,000, West 17th Street, retired.
JODY LEVCHUK
(402 votes)
Total spent: $27,703
Cost per vote: $68.92
When he filed with NJELEC, he listed himself as chairperson, with a mailing address of 2 Bayonne Place, and his brother, Randy Levchuk, of 8 Bayonne Place, as treasurer.
In his 11-day pre-election report May 3, he listed $7,600 in monetary contributions, all above $200, and expenditures of $8,262.
In his 29-day pre-election report filed May 22, he listed the same numbers.
In his 20-day post-election report, total receipts were $19,600, including a $12,000 loan to his committee, and total expenditures of $27,703.30. Levchuk made the $12,000 loan to his committee for a total of $17,000 he put into his campaign.
Major contributors:
Jody Levchuck, $5,000, $12,000; Paul Levchuk, $2,600, Naples, Fla.
FOURTH WARD
CECILIA
GALLELLI-KEYES
(392 votes)
Total spent: $21,208
Cost per vote: $54.11
Cheryl Sayers is listed as her treasurer.
In her 20-day post-election report filed June 3, she reported a total of $21,208.50 spent and total receipts of $20,909.
Major contributors:
MACPF Inc., Ocean City P.O. Box, $5,000.
Cecilia Gallelli-Keyes, $4,467.14.
Antonietta Gallelli, $5,000, PO Box, retired.
Jill Levchuk, $2,600, Naples, Fla., retired.
David McGettigan, $250, Sweetwater Court, retired.
Douglas D’Alfonso, $500, Valmar Court, employed by UPS.
Joseph Gallelli, $350, Medford, physician.
DAVID WINSLOW
(531 votes)
Total spent: $9,730
Cost per vote: $18.33
In his 20-day post-election report filed June 11, he reported total receipts of $9,138.31 and total expenditures of $9,730.
Kathleen Winslow of Wayland Drive is listed as his treasurer.
Major contributors:
Families of Ocean City United In Success PAC, $2,000.
$2,790.83 in forgiven loans from himself to his campaign.
Patrick Halliday, $500, Anchor Road, employed by Berkshire Hathaway/Fox & Roach.
Scott and Jane Halliday, $500, Anchor Road, Halliday/Leonard.
Pete Madden, $726.44 ($500 donation, remainder in-kind), Asbury Avenue (City Council president), employed by Goldcoast/Sotheby’s International Realty.
Ocean City Chamber of Commerce, $500 (in-kind, handouts).
Brian Broadley, $500, Vernon Road, Marmora, Broadley’s Plumbing, Heating and Air Conditioning.
Michael Dougherty, $500, Broadley’s Plumbing, Heating and Air Conditioning.
David Winslow, $1,000 loan to campaign.
– By DAVID NAHAN/Sentinel staff