Says city needs independent, financially disciplined leadership
OCEAN CITY — “I believe Ocean City, like any other municipality, needs open, independent, financially disciplined leadership on council and I offer all three.”
That is Jim Kelly telling the Sentinel why he submitted his nominating papers this week to run for an at-large seat on City Council. He and incumbent Sean Barnes were the first two to file their papers. There are three at-large seats up in the election.
Kelly is a familiar face at City Council meetings, speaking many times on behalf of the advocacy group Ocean City 2050 about the future of the Wonderland Pier amusement park site. He also was appointed to the Boardwalk Subcommittee, which has been studying zoning on the boardwalk to make recommendations to council about the boardwalk as a whole and the Wonderland property.
“I care about the city, I care about the community and I think I’m in a position to serve it well. I think my talents can do good for people,” he said.
The graduate of LaSalle University said he has a 43-year business career with executive experience in finance operations and business strategies for one of the nation’s leading senior living developers and managers. He is the vice president of Erickson Senior Living.
He grew up in Bucks County, Pa., and he and his wife, Donna, who have been married nearly 40 years, moved the family to Ocean City in 2004.
They have two grown sons, both Ocean City High School graduates who were state champions for the Red Raider surfing team. They also have three grandsons, ages 8, 4 and 2.
“Like a lot of people, this was our regular vacation spot and we did own a vacation home here. Our sons would visit Donna’s family in Hawaii each summer and they would come home after surfing with their uncle in Hawaii, wanting to find a place in New Jersey where they could surf,” he said, explaining how they came to live in the resort.
“We used to spend a lot of time driving from Bucks County to the beach for surfing. As (our sons’) interest grew, Donna and I thought to ourselves where could we relocate where we could enjoy that? That prompted our search and then as we looked into it, we saw what a great school district Ocean City had.”
They also had been developing friendships from their time vacationing in the resort and through the surfing community.
“We realized this is where we wanted to live.”
Kelly said he is not looking to change Ocean City.
“I’m just looking to make my contribution to keep it great and maybe make it even better. I have a strong belief in open government. It’s important to have dialogue, to have public engagement, for leaders to debate the issues and fully explain decisions that are made,” he said.
Talking about what would make him a good representative for the people, Kelly said he is independent with no financial ties associated with serving on City Council and would be able “to make all decisions based on what’s best for Ocean City. I’m not indebted to any special interests.”
“I am very much a believer in engagement. I think there’s opportunity there in Ocean City. There are times where public engagement seems to be difficult … . There is such value in bringing everybody in.
“I’m a fantastic listener,” he added. “I don’t take things personally. Listening and engagement only offers value, offers ideas, identifies opportunities. It’s important for the electorate to be heard.”
Kelly said elected officials need to work on the fact that taxes and the city’s debt have been increasing.
“Council has that responsibility to work with the administration, dig into the issues, dig into the data,” he said. “I believe in setting financial goals and measuring performance. I believe in marking similar municipalities and doing some comparisons.
“I believe in regular reporting the city’s finances; it’s not a once-a-year exercise and approving a budget. It’s an ongoing process of setting those goals, consistent reporting and measuring performance.”
Kelly was a co-founding member of the advocacy group Ocean City 2050, an organization that formed to increase transparency and trust in local government while preserving the unique character of Ocean City. To run for office, Kelly said he formally stepped down from the group “so if I do become a council person, I’m completely independent.”
“I’m still very aligned with the principles of good government. If people are interested in good government, some people are going to have to step up and actually do it,” he said.
“Let me let me be clear. I admire all the people currently on City Council … . Stepping up and running for an open position is an indication of my commitment to good government. I’m willing to step in and do the work as well.”
The election is May 12.
– By DAVID NAHAN/Sentinel staff
