Hartzell, Winslow have solid leads; Third Ward a tossup
OCEAN CITY — According to unofficial results Tuesday night, Sean Barnes appears the clear winner of the at-large race for City Council, beating former councilman Michael DeVlieger with a lead that stands at 1,778 to 1,261.
In the Fourth Ward, incumbent David Winslow is well ahead of challenger Cecilia Gallelli-Keyes, 512 to 380, and in the Second Ward, former councilman Keith Hartzell looks poised to return to council, leading Paul Stryker 353 to 302.
The Third Ward is a tossup with incumbent Jody Levchuk ahead by two votes over challenger Amie Vaules. In the unofficial results, Levchuk had 391 votes and Vaules had 389.
In the First Ward, incumbent Terry Crowley Jr. ran uncontested and received 659 votes.
The final count of mail-in ballots will not take place for another week, on May 21, with preliminary final results the following day.
The certification of election results is May 23.
According to the Cape May County website, capemaycountyvote.com and Ocean City Clerk Melissa Rasner, the results posted Tuesday evening include the vote-by-mail ballots received by the Board of Elections before the polls closed and the Election Day voting machine tally.
Not included in these unofficial results are vote-by-mail ballots mailed on or before Election Day but not yet received, vote-by-mail ballots for which “cure letters” have been issued and provisional ballots.
Four of the candidates — Barnes, Stryker, Vaules and Winslow — ran as an unofficial slate.
DeVlieger was elected three times to City Council in the First Ward, but left office partway through his third term in 2021. In 2022, he ran unsuccessfully for an at-large position.
Barnes and DeVlieger were running for the two years remaining on the at-large position that was vacated when councilwoman Karen Bergman resigned to take over as supervisor of the Howard S. Stainton Senior Center. Barnes said he was running for office to “bring new vision, new energy and common sense to our city government.”
In the Second Ward, Hartzell was facing businessman Stryker, who had a career in the restaurant business, including operating Arlene’s on Asbury in the ward.
Hartzell served as an at-large councilman for multiple terms before running unsuccessfully for mayor against incumbent Jay Gillian in 2022.
Hartzell said he was making a comeback because he loves Ocean City. One of his priorities is zoning changes that link the number of bedrooms and bathrooms to parking spaces.
In the Third Ward, Vaules said she believes in service and would use her skills as a problem solver. Levchuk, who is finishing his first term after unseating incumbent Tony Wilson in the 2020 election, touted his experience on council and from his successful boardwalk businesses, JiLLy’s.
Gallelli-Keyes served 11 years on the Ocean City Board of Education before losing her re-election bid last November. A longtime island resident whose family operated the Impala Inn touted her independence.
Winslow was first appointed to the Fourth Ward seat when Bobby Barr resigned to become a member of the Cape May County Board of County Commissioners. He was subsequently elected to the position but has not yet served a full term.
At top, Mayor Jay Gillian, right, Business Administrator George Savastano, left, and public information officer Doug Bergen tally unofficial results in the City Clerk’s Office to distribute to members of the media and candidates’ supporters.
– STORY and PHOTO By DAVID NAHAN/Sentinel staff
