… Two OC Incumbents Face Four Challengers In Tuesday’s Election
October 30, 2020
in forensics into that three-year period. Hard work isn’t something I shy away from. I did cram a four-year degree into three years and it’s no easy task. That’s something that I am fully committed to do for the city and for the residents. I want to make sure that Ocean City is the family resort town that I always came to as a child. I want to continue to be that family resort town and bring back that family atmosphere that I know we all love. I guess the other thing I’m really passionate about that I’d like to see on the city council is transparency. My job with the city of Salisbury working at the water department does not permit to have enough time to have all of these closed-door meetings, so they’re going to need to be in the open. If they’re not in the open, I won’t be able to attend them. So, transparency is just something that I cannot, cannot stress enough. Gehrig: I’m a 25-year resident. I moved here in 1995 and happened to move on the same street where my wife’s mom lived. We met at Macky’s and now we’re married. We have two kids and my father moved here. Both of her parents moved here, so now we have three generations who live right on the island. So, this is personal for me. Ocean City is one of the few places in the world, and I think we take it for granted because we live here, but it’s one of the few places in the world that has the amenities and the God-given nature that we have. I own an internet business and for 25 years we’re a debtfree company. After a couple of decades in business, I have developed an understanding of business principles and how to deal with human resources and managing people and leadership and making payroll. Sometimes the most stressful part right now is setting budgets and marketing and economics and pivoting and changing. So, being able to think creatively, see trends, see around the corner and create ideas with my team. A lot of times these ideas come from them. So, I think thinking and listening and taking action when appropriate, those are some of the skills I bring to the council. We have a diverse group on the city council and I think those are my unique skills that I bring to the table. I’m on the board of the Ocean City Chamber of Commerce and I’ve been a president for three terms. I’m also on the board of the Ocean City Paramedics Foundation, so I appreciate the value of our public safety. I’ve been on countless other boards and committees as well. I’ve been a councilman now for four years and I tell you, it’s just been a lot to learn and absorb. You think you’re smart and you know things, but you have to listen. So, now I think I’m kind of in the groove a little bit and have a much greater understanding of things I
The Dispatch/Maryland Coast Dispatch
never really knew about before. I’m not a civics guy. I’m not a government guy. I think that comes out a lot in the meetings, but I’m kind of the voice of change. I think I have a bold style and it’s not for everyone, but I’m fighting for our future through creative thinking and new ideas and bold action. I’m really just tired of sitting around, so I’m running to expand what makes us great and to help solve our challenges. There’s a need for solutions and I’m happy to sit at the table. So, I hope to earn the confidence of the public for the next four years. I’ll be even better now with four years behind me. Hagan: My name is Daniel Hagan. I’ve been a resident of Ocean City for about a year. My family has been coming here for generations since the 1960s starting with my grandparents and on. I decided to run because I believe in honesty, transparency and loyalty. I believe we need to have better leadership on the council and in the mayor’s spot as well. I come from Glen Burnie, Md., which is a small town. Like Ocean City, it’s a tight community that believes in honesty, loyalty and transparency. That’s what I hope to convey when I get in office. I believe all business should be conducted in an open forum because without having that type of platform, how can you trust the people that have the town in their hands. I’m a graduate of Glen Burnie High School in 2004. I studied government, marketing and business throughout my four years there. I learned a lot. I studied to make me better prepared for things like this. I decided to run because I feel like I can be the voice of change and hopefully learn from others when it’s time to do that. Finally, I would like to be the one who goes out on the Boardwalk when things turn to hell. I am going to be there and making sure we can do better when certain events and other things occur. Knight: I too have a history in Ocean City. I took my first steps here on 3rd Street in the sand. I worked at Mario’s, I flipped burgers at the Alaska Stand and I bussed tables in Harrison Hall. In 1995, I became a full-time resident to raise my daughter in a better environment. It was family-friendly and safe. I’ve got a lot of experience to bring to the city as a retired business owner. I’ve had two successful dental practices. I’m a member of the American Legion. I’ve been a Boardwalk code enforcement officer for a few years. I’ve been on the Board of Port Wardens for the last six years. I’ve been on the OCDC, the Downtown Association and I’ve served on multiple task forces. I believe this experience can help me hit the ground running to serve the taxpayers, the non-resident taxpayers and the tourists that come to Ocean City.
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