OC Today WWW.OCEANCITYTODAY.NET
OCTOBER 10, 2014
POLITICS
INTERVIEWS A series of Q&A’s with Ocean City Council candidates begins this week with a pair of them –Page 20
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Mike Galloway coaches his dog, Little Boy Blue, who then gets a running start and snags a toy suspended 5 feet 6 inches over a pool of water during the inaugural Pooch Palooza at Frontier Town in Berlin on Friday, Oct. 4.
Off and running Ocean City Council race set, as hopefuls start making rounds
By Zack Hoopes Staff Writer (Oct. 10, 2014) Several developments over the past week have added significant intrigue to Ocean City’s 2014 electoral contest, with the municipal ballot less than a month away. Former Councilman Joe Hall, a divisive figure in local politics for many years, has filed to run on this November’s ballot after failing to win re-election in 2012. Opposition to Hall’s can-
didacy has already formed along familiar political fault lines, with the local lobbying group Citizens for Ocean City – which actively opposed Hall’s 2012 campaign, and advocated for candidates endorsed by Mayor Rick Meehan – contesting his qualification to run. Additionally, Councilman Brent Ashley confirmed he will not be seeking re-election, meaning three of the four open council seats in 2014 will not have an incumbent. “I ran for office to accomplish a couple specific things, which I was successful in doing,” Ashley said, in refer-
ence to the 2011 salary and pension reforms. “I had already been retired for six years when I came onto the council. At this point, I feel like my role is done.” Councilwoman Margaret Pillas previously announced that she will also be retiring from office, and Councilman Joe Mitrecic has announced his resignation from council, effective Nov. 3, in order to fill Ocean City’s uncontested seat on the Worcester County Commissioners. Only current Council President Lloyd Martin will be running to retain his seat. This means that the See LOBBYING page 5
Flounder hearings prompt suggestions By Clara Vaughn Staff Writer (Oct. 10, 2014) Charter boat captains, sports fishermen and marine conservation advocates came to the Ocean Pines library last Thursday to give their take on the summer flounder fishery and new plans that will eventually guide it. The fishery management plan hasn’t been updated since 1993 and the scoping hearings here and at 13 other spots along the
Atlantic coast mark a first step toward a plan amendment, which the national Mid-Atlantic Fisheries Management Council and state-level Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission will oversee. “What should we focus on? That’s what the comments that we want to take back is,” said Mike Luisi, Maryland’s designated state official on the council, who helped lead the meeting. See FLATFISH page 7
Ashley steps down: ‘I had already been retired for six years when I came onto the council. At this point, I feel like my role is done.’ Are You Prepared for Old Man Winter?
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