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Councilman Tony DeLuca on his reelection campaign, Covid-19, and the issues facing Ocean City

Voters in the Town of Ocean City have a paramount decision to make this November, as four seats on the council along with the mayoral spot are up for grabs. In a candid interview with OceanCity.com, incumbent Councilman Tony DeLuca discussed his response to the pandemic, views on budgeting and finance, green team projects, and future initiatives.

Courtesy of Councilman Tony DeLuca

Tony DeLuca is campaigning for a third time in the hopes that he retains his seat on the Ocean City Council. He was first elected in 2014 to fill the spot vacated by Joe Mitrecic and served a two-year term. DeLuca won re-election in 2016 after finishing second in an impressive race.

DeLuca moved to Ocean City from Baltimore in 2008 after a 46-year career with KFC at Yum! Brands, Inc., where he worked on franchising, development, and operations for 2,000 stores. This experience helped him get elected in 2014, and he says it has certainly been an advantage. โ€œItโ€™s really helped me. I try to look at most of what we do as business, not government,โ€ DeLuca said.

While he has not been a resident of Ocean City for his entire life, DeLuca surely has a rich connection with the city. He and his wife Joyce met on the Boardwalk in high school, and he has been coming down to the ocean for decades. After a lengthy career in business, he decided that it was time to give back to the community.

Campaigning in the Covid-19 Era

DeLuca credits his previous two wins to thousands of interactions with voters. However, he and other candidates will have to get even more creative this time around. โ€œBoth times previously, I went door-to-door, visiting over 2,000 homes. That was a huge, huge advantage. I donโ€™t think I will be able to do that this time, it really may be a detriment because of Covid-19. So, thatโ€™s going to be a disadvantage this time,โ€ Deluca explained.

He also is skeptical that there will be opportunities for presentations from the candidates at the American Legion or AARP as there have been in previous election cycles. โ€œItโ€™s going to have a lot to do with the newspapers, your record, and the signage that you have out there so that people know your name,โ€ DeLuca added.

What is Your 10-Year Vision for the Town of Ocean City?

“I want Ocean City to be the cleanest and safest family beach in the world.”

Ocean City Skyline from OC Bay Hopper Shore Craft Beer Cruiseโ€œI want to have a really strong and strategic financial plan. Not only capital projects for the city, but also operating projects. I want to work on canal dredging, which is very important and improves property value, along with the streets. And of course, I do not want to have a tax increase in the next ten years, maybe even a decrease.โ€

DeLuca Has No Plans to Raise Taxes

โ€œThatโ€™s probably my single biggest strength,โ€ DeLuca said, when referring to managing the city budget. โ€œFor six years, I have always voted against any tax increase. If you look it over, I have never, ever supported a tax increase, and I continue not to support a tax increase,โ€ Deluca said.

On this issue of taxation, DeLucaโ€™s record reflects something that no other 2020 candidateโ€™s does. โ€œEveryone else who is running this year, has voted before to increase taxes,โ€ Deluca added.

โ€œIโ€™m very cautious about spending any money unless itโ€™s absolutely necessary,โ€ DeLuca said.

Push for More Permanent Residents in Ocean City

Councilman Tony DeLuca has acted to encourage more people to live permanently in Ocean City, Maryland. Just last month, DeLuca voted to approve the Primary Residence Incentive Program. The program aims to bring year-round residents to Ocean City, who will in turn support the tourism-based economy and benefit the community. Included in the program is a building permit fee waiver of up to $7,500 for โ€œnew or substantially approved primary residencesโ€ and a tax rebate of up to $2,500 if you are a new, permanent resident.

What is the key to bringing people to OC?

โ€œWe canโ€™t have tax increases. People continue to move to Delaware, Berlin, Ocean Pines, and West Ocean City because the taxes are so much lower. Itโ€™s expensive here, so we just canโ€™t have a tax increase.”

Covid-19 Response

Covid-19 is certainly going to affect the choices voters make, from local races all the way up to the presidency. Councilman DeLuca believes that he has made the right calls. โ€œI think we are doing a lot of the right thingsโ€ฆIf we continue to focus on masks and social distancing, weโ€™ll be alright. In all of the situations, weโ€™ve always made safety a priority,โ€ DeLuca said.

When asked about his reaction to critical comments on social media about Ocean Cityโ€™s response to the health crisis and accusations of mixed messages, DeLuca reiterated that he is taking the right steps.

Unrest on the Boardwalk in June

Ocean City Boardwalk

Throughout much of June, many residents and even visitors were frustrated over the increase in violence and unrest on the Boardwalk. Many high schoolers traveled to Ocean City for Senior Week and other young people arrived early in the summer when the statewide Covid-19 restrictions were lifted. According to the Police Commission report from June, over 1,000 calls were made to report disorderly behavior and noise complaints increased. On June 15, many members of the public voiced their anger to the council and pleaded with members to take action. In response to the unrest, the Ocean City Police Department increased their presence, though the problem continues to arise each year.

Councilman DeLuca feels that something must be done to combat this issue next year. โ€œI have a view that not everyone supports, but I support combatting it, and to help alleviate the problem, I support a curfew. Many of the issues happen late at night between 3rd and 10th Streets. I am going to push for a curfew to put a stop to that,โ€ DeLuca said.

Transparency and Optics

When asked about how transparent he has been with his constituents, DeLuca said that he has been very clear. โ€œTransparency has always been at the top of my mind, and something that Iโ€™ve pushed for in terms of audits and everything that weโ€™ve done at the council. I often get in trouble for talking too much and being too transparent,โ€ DeLuca said.

Green Team

Throughout his tenure, Councilman Tony DeLuca has been a strong advocate for sustainable environmental practices as Chairman of the Ocean City Green Team. His focus has been on the Protect our Sand and Seas source reduction campaign. The initiative aims to reduce or eliminate the use of items such as plastic straws, plastic bags, and styrofoam.

The Green Team has also had success with its cigarette Butt Hut program. ย Last month, thousands of butts were recycled to make new benches for the Boardwalk.

The Green Team is the recipient of the Sustainable Maryland Award and the Maryland Tourism Coalitionโ€™s Visionary Impact Award.

DeLuca is still looking for ways to be active with the Green Team during the pandemic.

What Have You Learned During Your Time on the Ocean City Council?

โ€œOne thing that Iโ€™ve learned is that it takes a tremendous amount of time to do anything in government. In business, you make a decision, and youโ€™re doing it the next day. In government, it takes forever.โ€

Election Day is November 3

The candidate filing deadline is October 6, and election day is November 3. This year, many, if not all, will cast their ballots by mail due to the ongoing pandemic. The top four vote-getters will secure spots on the council, serving the people of the Town of Ocean City.

For more information on Ocean City elections, click here.

To send Councilman Tony DeLuca an email, click here.

To view Councilman Tony DeLucaโ€™s voting record, click here.

Logan Dubel
Logan Dubel
Logan Dubel is a contributor for OceanCity.com and the host of "This Week in Ocean City." He is a Baltimore County native, Franklin High School graduate, and an undergraduate journalism and media student at the University of Texas at Austin. He joined the OceanCity.com team in June 2020. On the shore, he has also served as a writer at the Art League of Ocean City and the Ocean City Life-Saving Station Museum. Logan has a strong passion for covering the news and its impact on Marylanders. Since arriving at OceanCity.com, he has covered the effects of the Covid-19 pandemic, interviewed newsmakers including former First Lady Yumi Hogan, Mayor Rick Meehan, and members of the City Council, featured local businesses, and covered local events. As a collegiate journalist, Logan also works as a Life and Arts Reporter for The Daily Texan and an anchor/reporter for Texas Student Television. Most recently, he anchored live coverage of the 2022 Midterm Elections and reported from the CMT Music Awards Red Carpet. Have a story idea? Contact logan@oceancity.com.

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