No, there isn’t a four-way race for mayor in Ocean City
OCEAN CITY — Credit Ocean City Councilman Jody Levchuk for adding a bit of levity on April 1.
The councilman cheekily announced his campaign for mayor of Ocean City on social media, turning what is now a three-way race into what would be a four-way race.
Mayor Jay Gillian is running for re-election against Second Ward Councilman Keith Hartzell and council Vice President Pete Madden.
For those who did a quick take on his post, it looked real … until they read on and realized it was April Fool’s Day.
Levchuk’s post was star-spangled, red white and blue with bunting, a lifeguard and Ferris wheel by the beach with the saying, “VOTE Jody for MAYOR on MAY 13.”
That may have been the first clue — the election for mayor is May 12. That and the fact Levchuk never filed nomination papers to run for mayor. He was elected to council is 2020 and re-elected in 2024.
Levchuk went on to claim he was running and posted a laundry list of promises.
“I am proud to announce my run for mayor of Ocean City, NJ. For the last six years I have listened very carefully to all the needs and wants of our community,” he wrote. “That is why, if I am elected mayor on May 13, I promise to …
- Put a stop to all summer construction.
- Ban not just E-bikes, but all bikes and strollers from the Ocean City Boardwalk.
- Create an entertainment zone/red light district at the north end of the boardwalk.
- Add an inbound toll at the 9th and 34th Street entrances in an effort to divert traffic through the Gardens neighborhood. That bridge will become free.
- Any new eateries will be banned from selling pizza, ice cream and pancakes.
- Downtown Asbury Ave. will be awarded 12 liquor licenses to the highest bidders. Funds will be used to secure funding for windmills.
- I will be adding 20,000 more parking spaces across the city by allowing day-trippers to block residential driveways.
- Dogs will be allowed on all public beaches.
Levchuk’s post on Facebook was filled with positive comments from people who enjoyed the April Fool’s Day joke.
“You’re hilarious, Jody but you’re a great leader so it’s believable,” Liz Katz wrote. “Keep loving Ocean City and doing great work for the city that we all love dearly … and thanks for bringing some fun humor to the table.”
“HAAAAAAAAAAA all kidding aside on this April Fool’s Day,” Eileen McLaughlin-Patroni wrote. “Why not run Jody?
– By DAVID NAHAN/Sentinel staff