City Council: four seats, seven contenders
By Bethany Hooper Associate Editor
With seven candidates, including two incumbents, vying for four open seats, at least two new faces will be on the council once this year’s election concludes.
On Tuesday, Nov. 5, the Town of Ocean City will hold its municipal election, with the mayor’s office and four council seats up for grabs. The mayor’s term is for two years, while council members have fouryear terms.
Two of the seven council candidates — Tony DeLuca and John Gehrig – will be seeking re-election to another term.
DeLuca, who moved to Ocean City in 2008 after retiring as the head of franchising for KFC, was first elected to the council in 2014 and serves on the Bike and Pedestrian Advisory Committee, Trans-
Q. What in your background and life experiences distinguishes you as a suitable candidate for the Ocean City Council?
DeLuca: I bring a strong business background, having worked for Fortune 500 companies like PepsiCo and YUM Brands, Inc., where I gained valuable leadership experience.
As head of franchising for KFC, I oversaw operations for half of the United States, delivering proven results. My extensive experience in managing large teams and navigating complex challenges has equipped me with the skills needed to serve on the Ocean City Council.
Importantly, I have no personal interests in real estate, hotels, or businesses in Ocean City, which ensures that I approach decisions with no conflicts of interest and a clear focus on what’s best for the community.
portation Committee and the Green Team.
Gehrig, a two-term councilman and owner of D3, a digital marketing agency, currently serves as chairman of the town’s Recreation and Parks Committee and was a three-time past president of the Greater Ocean City Chamber of Commerce.
Also vying for seats are Tony DeSanctis, Denis “Bubba” Jenkins, George Leukel, Jake Mitrecic and Larry Yates.
A Baltimore native and longtime businessman in the sales, marketing and finance sectors, DeSanctis serves as a member of the OC Beach Heroes litter cleanup group and his condominium board.
Jenkins, recently retired from Worcester County Public Schools following a three-decade career in education, has en-
DeSanctis: I have been married to my wife Janet, for over 40 years and we have raised 3 children, including our oldest daughter, Dana, who has Down Syndrome and lives with us.
I have a BS in accounting from the University of Baltimore and I have over 50 years of business experience with both large and small companies, as a financial and marketing analyst, salesman, sales manager, district manager and regional manager.
I am also a business owner, having successfully owned and operated four different businesses, retiring as an Allstate agent, but more importantly, I became part of those communities.
As a community volunteer, I have worked on behalf of the United Way, The ARC and others as an organizer and fundraiser; raising over a quarter million dollars for charity.
I also have over 15 years of experi-
tertained an interest in running for local government since moving to the area.
Rounding out the list of candidates are Leukel, a 40-year resident of Ocean City and owner of a photography business and publication; Mitrecic, a third-generation building contractor, current member of the county’s Board of Zoning Appeals and an alternate on Ocean City’s Board of Zoning Appeals and son of County Commissioner Joe Mitrecic; and Yates, a retired police captain and deputy chief with the Rockville, Maryland Police Department, member of Atlantic United Methodist Church, the Montego Bay Neighborhood Watch Program and two city boards.
OC Today-Dispatch asked each candidate a series of questions with a 175-word maxmximum limit for responses. The following are their responses.
ence on three HOA Boards, including 12 years as president. My honesty, my integrity and my experience combined with the above skills will allow me to make an immediate and positive contribution to our council and town.
Gehrig: My primary experience is my success as a current council member for the past 8 years. I am very comfortable with every issue before us and have been a key member of the team that has solved important problems such as keeping Ocean City safe and clean, eliminating the unsanctioned car event, and attracting respectful guests.
I am a 29 year resident, 55 years old, and married with two teenage children. My father also lives in OC. Therefore, I understand and appreciate the quality of life concerns of 3thrteegenerations of residents.
In 1995 I founded a local business named D3. With 38 employees, I have experience with managing people, leadership, working as a team, making payroll, managing revenues and expenses, ensuring positive cash flow and profits, customer service, pivoting with changing times, developing and nurturing new ideas, and more.
These are all critical skills in government leadership. Finally, I have served on many non-profit boards in the area and have developed wellrounded life experiences that guide my principles as I serve our community.
Jenkins: I will start by stating that I am not a business owner in Ocean City, nor am I seeking this position to protect any interests other than whatever is best for the residents and the town as a family resort.
Tony DeLuca Tony DeSanctis John Gehrig Denis ‘Bubba’ JenkinsGeorge Leukel jake Mitrecic Larry Yates
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What I am seeking is the opportunity to serve my community and make solid, well thought out decisions on their behalf.
I have been a public servant in the teaching profession for 30 years and during that time have learned how to respectfully listen, ask questions to clarify, and respond appropriately to people.
Having recently retired, I have unlimited time to dedicate to my role as a Council member and am not in this as a second job or using this opportunity to protect my own assets.
I am in this because I like/want to help people, and here is an opportunity to stand up and do something instead of standing by and wishing things were different. I would like to be a part of the decisions that shape my community instead of having it done for me.
Leukel: I have lived in Ocean City for 40 years. I have a photography business. I have worked part time as a photographer for many newspapers in the O.C. area. The cellphone pushed me out of a job. People were sending newspapers free photos.
I decided to start up my own newspaper called Excitement that I print monthly in the summer and I put out a holiday issue in Dec.
I’m a retired real estate agent. I have probably donated a 1,000 hours to nonprofit groups. I was president of the O.C.-Berlin Rotary for seven years. I have been to 50 city council meetings.
Mitrecic: I’m a 30-plus year resident of Ocean City who has worked for the city in the Recreation Department, as a member of our service industry, and as a third generation builder.
Through these work experiences I’ve developed a unique perspective of both the residents and visitors here in our town. That balanced point of view, combined with an educational background in public policy and a desire to give back to others, make me a candidate with the proper disposition to lead.
My early interest in local politics comes from my involvement in my father’s successful City Council campaigns, and continued when I managed his campaign for county commissioner.
Although my experience as of yet has been behind the scenes, I felt that it was time for me to step up and join the next generation of leadership here in our town.
Yates: Law enforcement, 19711993 retired as deputy chief, Rockville City Police Department, Rockville, Maryland. Homeland Security/Legislative Branch with American Trucking Associations, Alexandria, Virginia, 19932004, Montgomery County Public
School System, Montgomery County Maryland 2005 - 2012.
Active in Atlantic United Methodist Church, Montego Bay Neighborhood Watch Program, Elks Club, Sons of the American Legion, Noise Control Board for Ocean City, and Mayor’s Motor Event Task Force.
Q. What do you see as the biggest issues facing Ocean City, and how do you plan to address them? Please list at least three.
DeLuca: Wind farms: I’ll fight against offshore wind farms to protect our coastal views and the interests of residents and businesses.
Property taxes: I will oppose any increase in property taxes to maintain affordability for year-round residents, retirees, and those on fixed incomes.
Public safety: I will ensure that our police, firefighters, paramedics, dispatchers, and beach patrol have the resources necessary to keep residents and visitors safe. This includes giving our public works employees the resources they need to keep our town thriving.
DeSanctis: Wind turbines: I am totally opposed to the offshore wind turbines and support everything that OC has done to stop them. On the council I will bring my passion to the fight as needed and as directed. If the turbines cannot be stopped, I would push for moving them further offshore.
Changing demographics: Ocean City has a median age of 54.2 years, 41% higher than the US average of 38.4. Two out of three residents are older than age 45. Can we improve upon any current services or add any additional services/business that would serve this market better and be attractive to new residents.
Beach accessibility: Getting to the beach can be challenging for many. Currently, we have about a dozen handicapped beaches – I want every beach to be handicapped accessible. I would pay for this project through advertising sales.
Family Affordability: OC has gotten expensive for families. Let’s develop a FAMILY WEEK(s) concept for vacationing in OC. Think of “all inclusive” vacation packages offering families convenience, real savings and real incentives to vacation in OC.
Gehrig: 1. Visible wind turbines will change OC forever. I am opposed and support working with our partners on solutions to prevent the turbines from ever being installed. See Question4.
2. “Smart” Tourism is a phrase I created that means we need to attract respectful guests to replace disrespectful guests who throw trash in our streets, commit crimes, and are reckless with their vehicles. We have
eliminated the pop-up rally, have reduced crime in June, and are welcoming new, respectful guests through world-class events such as Oceans Calling. I am labeled “the sports guy” for my leadership in bringing a world-class sports complex to the area to attract families who travel for sports.
3. A safe & clean community with sound infrastructure is critical. The ”Smart” Tourism initiatives noted above will lead to a cleaner and safer community with less stress on our staff. Cleaning up the foul displays on the Boardwalk is a priority.
4. Quality of life for residents is of paramount importance for a vibrant, year-round community. See questions 3 and 5.
Jenkins: Obviously, the wind turbines are the biggest issue we are currently facing. I want to be clear in stating that I am 100 percent against the wind turbines (they were outdated a long time ago).
Following those, the issue of shortterm rentals is (to me) second, with the third being finding a solution to the negative image Ocean City has received due to crime in the downtown and Boardwalk areas. It does not end there though.
We have a homeless population issue. We have a conflict between what works for businesses and what works for the residents, as both do not always/often share the same vision.
For the turbines, we are facing an uphill battle. The state already has their mind made up. I feel suing the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management is the right choice, even if it does nothing more than delay the process allowing for a possible administration change and policy change.
I realize this is going to be costly. However, this is an area where we cannot falter. The proposed legislation regarding the short-term rentals could stand some fine-tuning.
Leukel: The biggest issues facing O.C. is to get people to come to O.C. in the off-season which is Oct.-May. We need to treat our visitors better.
We need to get rid of the fake O.C. police ordinance that says police tows cannot go to tow court. For some reason the current O.C. council has let police use this fake ordinance for the past four years. OCPD has towed over 4,000 vehicles. The city has made $2 million in tow fees. It’s $450 tow fee and $50 a day storage fee. $500 to get your car out of the impound.
My vehicles been towed three times illegally. I was arrested for DWI twice, handcuffed, taken to jail, vehicle towed. I blew a 0.0 twice. I had to pay $800 to get my vehicle out of impound. If I could have gone to tow court, I would have gotten a $800 refund. Time to tell OCPD to stop using
this fake towing ordinance. Our $10 million ad budget is out of control. We are wasting $165,000 advertising at Baltimore Orioles games. We are wasting $100,000 to promote O.C. Golf. We need to put a ban on advertising O.C. in Maryland. We need to expand our advertising.
Mitrecic: Wind Farm: Ocean City needs bright, articulate, and driven representatives to attest to the negative effects of wind farms at the state level, organize community effort, and possibly testify in the coming federal lawsuit. I will be that representative.
Public Safety Staffing: Ocean City needs to be safe first in order to continue being a world-class family resort. I will be persistent in my belief that we need to better compensate our police officers to battle our retention issue, as well as my belief that we need to bolster our numbers in the fire/EMSprograms.
Short-Term Rental Regulations: I will work hand-in-hand with the planning commission, property owners, and neighbors to create regulations that serve our community. Currently, I’d like to create ordinances to keep on-site rental managers for these properties, as well as revisiting our occupancy limits.
Mobile Home Insurance: I will use my position to raise this issue to state representatives and work with them to protect my neighbors investments and the future of our MH districts.
Yates: The subject in the forefront is the wind turbine issue. I will back the council in their decision to fight this battle and encourage citizens and visitors to support their efforts.
Second, is the staffing of our police department and fire departmentCalls for service by both agencies increase and response times will get longer if we do not recruit, hire, and retain staff for adequate coverage during the peak and off seasons.
Third is the building within the Town. There are many Town of Ocean City departments involved in the permitting process. I believe not all proposed projects should be improved. Over building, adequate parking for the project and access for emergency equipment needs a closer look.
Q. There are several ongoing projects and initiatives centered on tourism and economic development (i.e. the development of a sports complex near Berlin and the expansion of Ocean City’s shoulder season through music festivals).
As a council member, how do you plan to make Ocean City more livable for its residents, while supporting the town’s stated goal of becoming a yearround destination for visitors?
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DeLuca: The development of a sports complex is a vital step toward balancing tourism with livability. By attracting visitors during the off-season, we can relieve pressure on summer crowds and still support local businesses.
Additionally, expanding events like music festivals during the shoulder season boosts the local economy without overwhelming infrastructure.
I also support continuing programs that offer residents discounts and special access to town amenities. This ensures that the community feels valued while tourism remains a driving force for enhancing public services and infrastructure that benefit everyone.
DeSanctis: Living in a resort town has its own unique set of challenges for residents. Without robust tourism, we won’t be the same town, we won’t maintain the same levels of service and we won’t remain financially viable. There will never be an end in our efforts to generate more revenue.
I support efforts to expand the shoulder season with music festivals. The city did a great job, hosting over 400,000 guests without incident. Disruption was minimal for that number of visitors.
The sports complex would be an economic driver for OC and would increase tourism over the winter months. Hopefully, Ocean City and Worcester County, and its residents, will work together to bring this to fruition.
Our town and its residents benefit tremendously from tourism, and yes, at times, it can be inconvenient. I would make sure that residents are kept informed and make sure that their concerns can be heard.
Although the city has a communications department, I would consider adding an “ombudsman” to the city staff - an individual dedicated to handle community concerns.
Gehrig: Governments have a choice — to make money or take your money in the form of taxes. Given the choice between “make it” or “take it,” I always choose making money. “Smart” Tourism is the answer.
Tourism is our business and it helps pay our bills. Our room tax revenue is paid by visitors and is among our fastest growing sources of revenue. This allows OC to pay for infrastructure, public safety, public works, rec & parks, etc. that makes OC more livable without raising the resident property tax rate.
Not all tourism is good tourism, however. We want low impact, low cost, highly profitable guests who respect our town. This requires less effort and stress on our staff. We eliminated the pop-up rally and implemented an aggressive “replace-
ment” strategy. We brought the music festivals to town to introduce OC to new guests.
The sports complex will do the same. This $35 billion industry welcomes highly profitable, respectful families who help pay for the services our residents use and rely on.
Jenkins: This is a true catch 22. On one hand, we need the businesses to thrive. On the other, our residents are entitled to finding happiness in their home and in their town. This is where I feel I can truly represent the people.
We are already a year-round destination. Obviously, we do not have the summer crowds all year, but we do have increased tourism throughout the entire “off-season.”
I will ask this question for every event proposed, “How does this impact the quality of life for our residents?” We have had some less-than -favorable events that, thankfully, are gone.
Now, we have to be careful to look at how more events will affect traffic flow, impact our infrastructure, impact noise levels, and impact the freedom to enjoy a peaceful home.
If the benefit is mostly financial, and not something the majority of residents will enjoy, I just do not see the benefit. We need to take our time and find the right events that can promote our family destination image.
Leukel: My plan to make O.C. more livable is to take some of that advertising money and build an aquarium next to the convention center. We should have a beach D.J. party every Sunday night from 7-10 p.m. Then shoot off some big fireworks. It should start first week of June and go to the first Sunday in October.
We should give away several week vacations to Fort Lauderdale at Sunfest to thank our visitors for coming to O.C. We should have a Christmas party at Northside Park Dec. 25. Give away a new 4-wheel drive pickup to go fishing on Assateague. 2nd place of a free weeks vacation to Fort Lauderdale.
On the back of your train ticket you register for free Christmas gifts from Ocean City. Thanks for visiting us. Lets have a fire and ice Valentine weekend event with ice sculptures and fireworks on the beach. Hotel and dinner, drinks specials to get people to come to Ocean City in boring Jan. Why do we not leave the Winterfest Lights on Fri and Saturdays, 6-10 p.m. free to walk thru Winterfest of Lights?
Mitrecic: One thing that events like music festivals and sports tournaments do really well is to bring people into town and keep them in one place.
While the Oceans/Country Calling
events brought in a tremendous economic impact, most of the town north of the event did not seem to be slammed with traffic, covered in trash, or filled with rowdy revelers like some other events.
We need to continue to invest in events that are centered around areas of town with low full time residency density, that encourage the use of public transit, and bring in respectful visitors.
I would like to see what kind of options are out there for the town and would want to see what our tourism department has seen similar “seasonal” towns do in order to bolster a year-round environment.
Ocean City will need creative additions to our event calendar to drive not only more people into town but the right people as well.
Yates: I think our Tourism Department has done an outstanding job in bringing quality entertainment to the convention center both during the tourist season and during the off season.
Events during the off season are well attended and I believe there has been positive feedback. The only negative item is the lack of adequate parking at the convention center. This creates problems for the property owners surrounding the convention center because those attending the events take up the parking reserved for the residents.
I will definitely support an expansion for elevated parking at the Convention Center. I know there is a workable solution if all parties put on their thinking caps. We also need improvements in our public transportation. This is easily done through proper education. Parking accommodations and public transportation is important.
Q. The Town of Ocean City has filed suit against the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management over US Wind’s project, located roughly 10 miles from the city’s coastline. Do you support the use of public funds to sue the federal government? If so, why? If not, why?
DeLuca: Yes, I fully support using public funds to sue the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM). Protecting the beauty of our coastline is critical to Ocean City’s identity, property values, and tourism economy.
Wind turbines 10 miles offshore would create visual pollution, and we must take every possible step to stop this from happening. Ocean City’s natural beauty is irreplaceable, and we owe it to residents, visitors, and future generations to preserve our unspoiled views.
We only get one chance to do this RIGHT! Public Works has reported
that some people, watching the sunrise, actually sit there on the beach and Cry … This is a huge #1 priority for OC and I will do everything in my authority to stop them. “No Damn Wind Farms!”
DeSanctis: I support all efforts and actions that the Town of OC is taking, and has taken, to stop the turbines and the industrialization of our oceans, including legal action. I also support the use of public funds to fight the turbines, but would set a budget.
A campaign to solicit private donations could also be started to supplement public funds. This is the greatest challenge that OC has ever faced and the turbines must be stopped.
Seven and half years of discussion/ negotiations have not yielded results to date and legal action is the only alternative at this point. The Town has partnered with other affected groups to join our lawsuit against BOEM/or file their own lawsuits.
Defeating the federal government, without the help of our governor is going to be difficult. Our strategy should be, and I believe it is, STOP the turbines at all costs, while pushing to move them further offshore, if we cannot stop them I urge all residents OPPOSED to the turbines to contact the Governor at 410-974-3901.
Gehrig: I adamantly oppose offshore wind. I believe that placing 114 steel structures, each over 900 feet tall and filled with oil, in the middle of the ocean is the definition of a bad idea.
The world’s landscape is littered with turbines that have broken down in much less stressful conditions.
Just recently, broken fiberglass blades broke off an offshore wind turbine and closed beaches in Massachusetts, impacting their economy.
The proposed industrialization of our horizon will change Ocean City forever and result in untold negative financial impacts. A new proposal would move the turbines to roughly 3 miles from our beach.
The wind industry’s own studies admit that visible turbines will negatively impact tourism and property values. Those are the two primary sources of revenue for Ocean City. Understanding that premise … paying an attorney is a bargain compared to declining property tax and tourism tax revenues. Those revenue reductions will almost certainly require tax increases on all OC taxpayers. To avoid that expensive outcome in the future, we can pay less to fight it today.
Jenkins: I am completely in favor of the use of public funds (as well as any other funds we can get) to sue the federal government on this issue.
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This issue affects every resident in Ocean City. It is the job of your representatives to make proper use of the money they receive from its citizens. In this case, it is us versus them. By us I mean the overwhelming majority of our population that has decided we do not want the wind turbines. By them, I mean the state and federal agencies that do not respect our choice or our wish regarding this issue.
I can’t understand the push for these turbines, other than the monetary gain some people (not us) will receive for slamming this down our throats.
I strongly advise you to do your research on US Wind, which by the way, is not based in the USA and think about why they call their company US Wind as well as what they are really trying to do.
Leukel: No, I don’t support spending public funds to sue the government. On Sept. 5, 2024, the Biden administration approved the US Wind project to build offshore turbines about 10 miles off the coast.
Look at what the government has done to Trump with all the made up charges. He probably spent big money fighting the government and lost. O.C. has no chance against the government.
Mitrecic: I do support the use of public funds for the lawsuit. This fight is life-and-death for our town. Cape May County, N.J. published a report estimating a billion dollar loss to its tourism industry if a wind farm were installed off its coast. They won.
The board of public utilities terminated any projects off their shore and protected their coast.
We don’t want to end up like Nantucket and have a 115,000 pound blade disintegrate in a storm and wash plastic on our beach all summer.
It would make the medical waste incident look like child’s play.I can’t imagine the negative economic impact of losing our greatest asset, and for that, I think we need to spend the money necessary to produce an airtight case.
Yates: Yes. I think this is a priority for us to preserve our beach and coastline. I would hope we can pursue successful grants, outside support, bond sales, etc. to offset expenses for the lawsuit, but It is well
worth it and must be pursued.
The windfarms would destroy our views, and do serious damages to our environment, marine and mammal life, fishing industry and recreational use would kill our tourism and appeal for the City.
Q. The Ocean City Council, citing an increasing number of rental properties, has been wrestling with developing short-term rental regulations for years. The goal seems to be to protect the year-round communities of Ocean City. What is your stance on these proposed regulations? Do you support occupancy limits and minimum stays as has been discussed?
DeLuca: I support short-term rentals! R-1 and MH must be protected with 5/7 day minimum rentals, no weekends at 2/3 days. I also support 2 per bedroom, plus 2, don’t count children under 10 - much better for enforcement, when police are called, for occupancy.
Also, every 4 years for the inspection process for all rental properties. 24/7 rental agent on duty for any issues. Of course, I will actively listen to all recommendations from the public hearing.
DeSanctis: Property owners have rights. The short-term rental discussion has been going on for years but has intensified recently.
Our R1 (single family) and MH (mobile homes) communities have been impacted by short term rentals through AirBNB, VRBO and others.
One issue that has been repeatedly raised is the lack of local accountability when issues do arise.
The OC strategic plan calls for efforts and actions to increase the number of year -round residents. Addressing the short term rentals in these neighborhoods is a discussion that needs to be held.
This short term rental solution/discussion is not about how I feel, but rather how residents feel. My process would be to gather the relevant data first, listen to what residents have to say, best done at our public hearings, and then listen to what the professionals in planning and zoning have to say.
Council members should then have enough information to make an informed decision. Planning and Zoning will be holding a public hear-
ing on this on Oct, 2, and I will be there.
Gehrig: I support revised regulations on short-term rentals in our R1 and MH zoned residential neighborhoods for two reasons:
1. Our existing occupancy code is unenforceable and must be fixed.
2. For generations, rentals in neighborhoods were weekly. AirBnB and VRBO have disrupted the market. These same homes are now available for nightly stays. It is not uncommon for 3 different groups of people to accommodate one house in a given week.
Further, many of these rentals are managed directly by owners who are out of the area and not available if something happens. These owners are jamming as many people into these homes as possible, creating major noise, parking, traffic, and other inconvenience to our residents.
For rentals in our neighborhoods, I recommend: — Maximum occupancy per house based on bedrooms, — Minimum stay of 1 week, — All parking regulations must be followed, — Licensed, local property manager registered with the city.
This plan impacts just 350 of the roughly 8,500 rentals in Ocean City. That leaves plenty of other options for nightly rentals.
Jenkins: The goal seems to be to protect the year-round communities of Ocean City, but I will tell you that when I was canvasing locations to place my election signs, very often –nearly always, any hotel I approached wanted to know my stance on AIRBNBs.
With that in mind, the goal of these regulations are also to eliminate some of the competition these businesses face. The current proposals are seeking a minimum stay of 7 days, two people per bedroom plus two additional guests and children under 10.
Now, it has been shown that STRs such as AIRBNB have the potential to reduce the number of available homes for full-time residents and therefore drive up the prices for those homes.
It has also been shown that STR’s are often owned locally, so the profits would be spent locally, unlike large hotel chains that take the profits elsewhere.
I welcome the STR’s as long as they are regulated, taxed, licensed and treated like an actual business.
The 7-day minimum stay requirement will certainly eliminate some of the transience of the STR’s, but is it equitable?
Leukel: I do support occupancy limits. Most rental companies have occupancy limits on the number of people that can be in rental units. No, I do not support the minimum stays. People should be able to stay one day or a month.
Mitrecic: I have been researching this issue not only in our town but the entire East Coast at various vacation destinations.
While a number of other communities have dealt with this issue with varying degrees of severity, I think a great common-sense place to start is to move forward with restructuring occupancy ordinances as well as requiring an “on-site” rental manager to curb absentee landlords.
This small but manageable barrier to entry will ensure property owners retain their rights but will place the responsibility on them to make sure they are being safe, respectful neighbors to the community.
I have read a number of scholarreviewed articles that suggest that STR’s do indeed have a negative effect on their surrounding communities and I do want to see us be proactive rather than reactive in dealing with this issue.
I do believe a minimum length of stay may also help curtail problem rentals, however I believe the city needs to do its due diligence to find a minimum that serves both rental owners and the full-time community.
Yates: Short term rentals are necessary and part of the commerce in Ocean City. The impact on the community can be more negative than positive.
There are comings and goings by unknown individuals and unknown vehicles. The neighbors will never know who is actually renting the house, especially with a one or two night rental.
Plus, we also know and understand, there are usually more individuals than are listed as permitted. Houses, condos, mobile homes are being purchased as investment properties.
This can diminish the value of homes who are occupied year-round or as second homes because of the rental clientele.
What voters need to know about Ocean City’s election
The Town of Ocean City is holding the municipal election in conjunction with federal and state elections on Tuesday, Nov. 5, from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. Registered Ocean City voters are able to vote in all elections at the Roland E. Powell Convention Center, 4001 Coastal Highway. The elections will be conducted independently. Voters must sign in at both the municipal and the federal/state registration desks that day. Free bus service is offered for all users on Election Day. The "no-fare" policy for buses and ADA service will be in effect from 6 a.m. to 1 a.m. The Coastal Highway "Beach Bus" will run every 30 minutes. ADA service is available to qualified individuals during the same days and hours that the "Beach Bus" service is in operation, but 24-hour advanced trip reservations are required. Bus stops closest to the Ocean City Convention Center can be found on southbound Coastal Highway at 41st and northbound Coastal Highway at 39th and 42nd streets. For additional information contact Ocean City Transportation at 410-723-1606 or visit www.oceancitymd.gov.
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Meehan vs Buas: real race for mayor
By Bethany Hooper Associate Editor
Next week, incumbent Rick Meehan and challenger Peter Buas will square off in the first contested mayoral election in six years.
Earlier this summer, Meehan, a local real estate agent, filed to run for his 10th consecutive term as mayor. After serving on the council for 21 years, Meehan took over as the town’s chief representative in June of 2006, when then-mayor Jim Mathias was named as the replacement for Del. Bennett Bozman, who passed away in office. He has served in that role ever since.
In September, however, Councilman Peter Buas, an attorney with Williams, Moore, Shockley & Harrison, announced his candidacy, marking the start of the first contested mayoral race since 2018, when Meehan defeated former councilman Joe Hall. Buas’s foray into municipal politics began in 2020, when he secured the most votes in the November election to gain a seat on the city council. Since that time, he has served on the city’s police commission, coastal resources legislative committee and the risk retention committee.
Both candidates are seeking the electorate’s vote on Nov. 5, when the Town of Ocean City will hold its municipal election. Ahead of next week’s election, the OC Today-Dispatch asked the candidates to answer five questions. The following highlights their responses.
Q. Why do you want to be mayor of Ocean City? Please provide at least three reasons why you think voters should cast their vote for you rather than your opponent.
Buas: Simply put, it’s time for a change. While I have nothing but respect for the incumbent’s almost 40 years of service, the current reality is that our relationships with our partners at the county and state level have gone stagnant, and we are making little progress on our collective goals. There is a reason a majority of the City Council supports my candidacy – because a new energy is needed. Here’s why I ask for your vote: Fresh Perspective: I’m dedicated to bringing a fresh perspective and a renewed commitment to a collaborative approach to get us moving in the right direction.
Experience and Commitment: As your councilman since 2020, and with my career as a local attorney, I’m deeply connected to both the residents and businesses. I have the skills to represent our community effectively.
Succession Planning: There are
clared it is the mayor that takes over operational authority. We live on a barrier island and being prepared is essential. I assumed this role during Hurricane Irene, Super Storm Sandy and during the Covid pandemic.
I have developed relationships with elected officials throughout the state that are extremely important to Ocean City when we have issues before the state legislature. Recent examples include convention center expansion and the special event zone legislation that successfully drove the H2oi event out of town.
Q. If elected, what will be your priorities as mayor in your two-year term? Please list at least three.
ment. Extending the life of this project is imperative and needs to be done now to make sure we have this agreement in place for the next 50 plus years.
Public safety is our number one priority, and hiring and maintaining the best police and fire personnel is our goal. We must compete in today’s competitive hiring market and address lifestyle issues important to our employees. Increasing incentives for our employees to live in Ocean City should also be a priority.
Improve our relationship with Worcester County. The county has joined the city in our opposition to the US Wind project and this could be the catalyst for improving our ongoing dialogue on other important issues.
retirements in key leadership roles likely to occur in the next two-four years, it’s important to ensure a smooth transition. Now is the right for a new mayor to step in, maintaining stability while taking advantage of the institutional knowledge available, while it is still here.
Meehan: I believe in Ocean City and our residents. I also believe the future is now and we must address the issues of today as we plan for tomorrow.
The biggest challenge we face today is the proposed US Wind Project. I have represented the mayor and City Council’s unanimous opposition to this project at every level of the state and federal government for the past 7 ½ years.
I am the most experienced elected official on this issue and in the best position to continue representing Ocean City in this fight.
I am the only candidate for this office that has received certified FEMA Emergency Management training and attended accredited evacuation classes at the National Hurricane Conference.
When a state of emergency is de-
Buas: Opposing Offshore Wind Farms: Standing firm against the proposed offshore wind farms, which would negatively impact our coastal views, businesses, and tourism, to protect what makes Ocean City unique.
Quality of Life for Our Residents:
Ensuring Ocean City remains a safe, clean, and thriving community by focusing on the quality of life for our year-round residents.
Public Safety: Supporting our first responders—firefighters, paramedics, and police officers—by providing the resources and personnel they need to protect both residents and visitors.
Public Works: Prioritizing the maintenance and improvement of our infrastructure, roads, and facilities to ensure Ocean City remains functional, efficient, and welcoming for all.
Meehan: The dualization of Route 90 is essential to the future of Ocean City. Currently, if there is an accident on Route 90, it can block access for our ambulances and other emergency vehicles. This is also essential in the event of an emergency evacuation.
Work with the Federal Government, State of Maryland, and Worcester County to extend the 50year Beach Replenishment Agree-
Q. The mayor serves as the town’s chief representative and interacts with local, state and federal officials in advocating for Ocean City. The city is currently weighing a lawsuit against the federal government over the proposed wind farm project. How do you justify the use of public funds for this legal fight?
Buas: The offshore wind project is a threat to every level of our community and will be the defining issue for the future of Ocean City. Our dedication to this fight is critical, and it demands the full commitment of our resources.
The use of public funds is justified as the project endangers the very foundation of our economy. This is a formidable contest, as we are pitted against both the state and federal governments. To have a chance at success we must create every possible roadblock to the progress of offshore wind.
While litigation is a critical piece of our opposition, Ocean City must adopt a multifaceted approach in collaboration with our allies. A comprehensive public relations campaign aimed at Marylanders, especially those across the Bay Bridge, is essen-
Rick Meehan
Peter Buas
OCEAN CITY MUNICIPAL ELECTION
tial to show state legislatures that the negative impacts of the project far outweigh any benefits.
If elected, I will remain committed to exploring every option available to delaying and ultimately blocking the progress of offshore wind.
Meehan: The proposed wind farm will industrialize our oceanfront and destroy our view shed. It threatens our environment, our eco system, and our property values.
This project negatively affects our property owners, and I believe we have the support of our community to stand together and fight this project that threatens our future.
A North Carolina State study showed that 50% of visitors that stayed on the oceanfront would not return if wind turbines were visible from their beaches. This scenario would devastate our economy and cost our taxpayers millions of dollars.
I think it is important to recognize that Worcester County and a number of local organizations, businesses and individuals have joined in this suit as co-plaintiffs. Ocean City cannot do this alone, and this is a total community supported effort. I believe this expense is justified and supported as a legal expense.
Q. In the city, there are many discussions being held on the balance between growing the shoulder seasons with new and larger special events versus keeping Ocean City a livable community for its residents. How do you see your role as mayor in this ongoing conversation?
Buas: Ocean City’s economy is undeniably driven by tourism—it is our only industry, and its continued
growth is vital to our success. Nevertheless, it is equally important to balance this growth with maintaining a high quality of life for our residents.
It is essential to continually evaluate our special events, weighing their economic benefits against any negative impacts on our community.
Our collective goal should be to attract and incentivize high-quality events that draw visitors who are respectful of our town and its values. By doing so, we can ensure positive outcomes for both our local businesses and our residents’ quality of life.
The mayor is responsible for the appointment of the boards and commissions that provide key policy recommendations to the council. To achieve the desired balance, we must ensure that these boards represent a correct blend of our stakeholders— promotors, business owners, residents, visitors, and staff — so that all voices are considered when shaping the growth of our town.
This requires an ongoing collaboration, ensuring that we are working in service of this balance to protect our community’s character while responsibly creating opportunities for growth.
Meehan: As mayor, I have an open-door policy, and I listen to the concerns of our residents and business owners. Our goal is to add quality events that have a lessor impact on our residential communities.
The Oceans Calling and Country Calling concerts are examples of this type of event. Another example is sports tourism. At the request of the council, I formed a task force to investigate the building of a first-class sports complex.
If approved this will eventually require the mayor to lobby members of
the state legislature for funding assistance for this project. We must also continue to evaluate our current events to make sure they are compatible with our goals.
This is an important discussion and our residents, partner organizations, and our city staff must all be involved. It is important to remember that tourism generates a significant amount of revenue to offset our reliance on property taxes.
In FY 2024 property taxes accounted for just 42% of our general fund revenue. Room tax alone contributed 15M to the general fund.
Q. Ocean City operates under a council-manager form of government with the mayor not having a vote on matters in council meetings. How do you plan to work with the seven council members as well as city staff without overstepping into operations?
Buas: Over the past four years, I’ve worked closely with my colleagues on the council, building strong relationships based on cooperation and open communication. This foundation will serve me well as mayor.
I fully respect the council-manager structure. The role of mayor has two key components: (1), advocating for the town’s interests with our county, state, and federal partners, and (2), serving as a conduit between residents and businesses to our council.
I am ready to foster a unified direction, and watch everyone thrive in their respective roles. A major reason for my candidacy is to put a stop to the routine oversteps in operations, which sometimes affect staff decisions and recommendations.
WORCESTER COUNTY BOARD OF EDUCATION
I understand the importance of letting staff do their jobs without interference, and allowing honest and thoughtful policy recommendations to the council. The mayor’s focus should not be on day-to-day operations but rather on championing the strategic goals of the town.
I am fully aware of the duties and boundaries of the mayor’s role and will respect them while serving Ocean City. Respecting these boundaries only benefits our residents.
Meehan: I support the council/manager form of government. The mayor may not have a vote, but I do have a voice at council meetings to represent our residents, business owners and taxpayers. The mayor also has veto power over all ordinances.
Once decisions are made, it is the mayor that acts as a representative for the MCC supporting the actions taken by the council and or making requests before other local, state and federal governing bodies.
The city manager is the chief operating officer of the town, and solely responsible for managing our department heads. My office consistently gets requests from individuals to meet and if they are requesting action from the town,
I always invite the city manager to attend or refer them directly to his office. The mayor also appoints the citizen members to our city boards and commissions, subject to council approval. I think it is important to make sure these committees are balanced and represent different opinions and all areas of our community.
We have an excellent council, city manager and team of department heads. We all have different responsibilities and working together we can make a difference.
Four candidates, two seats, two districts
By Tara Fischer Staff Writer
The Worcester County Board of Education will see contested races for the seats in District 3 and District 5.
Voters may cast their ballots for their preferred candidate on Tuesday, Nov. 5 at the respective district polling places. Countywide early voting ended. on Oct. 31,
Dr. Jon Andes
Dr. Jon Andes, the District 3 incumbent in the board of education race, is facing a challenge from Cheryl Middleton.
Andes earned a bachelor of science
in Secondary Education/Social Studies from Bloomsburg State College, a master of education in Educational Leadership from Loyola College of Baltimore, and a doctor of education in Education Policy, Planning, and Administration from the University of Maryland, College Park.
Andes’ career began as a social studies teacher at Havre de Grace High School in Harford County. While working at HGHS, he was promoted to assistant principal and then principal, where he led the school to a National Blue Ribbon School designation.
He was then promoted to assistant superintendent for personnel and
staff relations for Harford County Public Schools.
In 1996, Andes became the Worcester County Public Schools superintendent, a role he held from 1996 to 2012.
When he started, WCPS ranked 19th out of 24 school systems on state tests. It was under his tenure that Worcester became number one. In 2012, Andes became a professor of practice at Salisbury University, teaching undergraduate and graduate courses.
He is the author of a book on funding public schools in Maryland, “Taking the Mystery Out of Funding Maryland Public Schools,” published
by the International Council of Professors of Educational Leadership. In 2020, Andes was elected to the Worcester County Board of Education. As a board member, Andes served on the feasibility study/workgroup to build a new Buckingham Elementary and renovate Berlin Intermediate School.
He is a member of the Atlantic General Hospital Board of Trustees, Delmarva Council Boy Scouts of America Tri-County Council Advisory Board and merit badge counselor, and the Snow Hill Rotary Club. He volunteers with Delmarva Pets on Wheels Therapy Dog Program and is on the Chamber Music by the Sea
WORCESTER COUNTY BOARD OF EDUCATION
Planning Committee. In addition, Andes and his wife, Laurie, created three endowed scholarships to support the next generation of teachers.
Cheryl Middleton
Cheryl Middleton is challenging Andes for the District 3 seat on the board of education.
She is a retired executive who has worked for Fortune 500 companies in high-level positions and consulted with Global Fortune 1000 companies in innovation and strategic planning. Her clients, based in Europe, South Africa, and the US, include BMW AG (Munich), Siemens AG (Munich), Sony Electronics Design, the NationsBank/Bank of America merger, the US Air Force, Towers Watson, Munich Re, and others.
She also co-founded two software companies, one of which was acquired by IBM.
Middleton said she “understands the needs of the community with respect to long-term planning and educational needs, and is adept at problem-solving and developing, managing and analyzing multi-million-dollar budgets.”
She said her areas of expertise include strategic business problem identification and solution development and implementation, process re-design, idea generation, business development and marketing, new product and services development, facilitation, and executive coaching.
Middleton has over 30 years of experience serving on boards of directors for charitable organizations, homeowner associations, foundations, and a national organization dedicated to eliminating Esophageal Cancer (www.ECAN.org).
She has lived in Maryland for 45 years and in Worcester County for five years. She serves on the Glen Riddle HOA Board of Directors and chairs an annual Christmas Drive to provide every resident at Diakonia with gift bags full of clothing, toiletries, Christmas treats, games, books, and toys.
Last year, her efforts served 53 men, women, and children. Middle-
ton also serves on the communications committee for her church, writing press releases and news items for local newspapers’ calendars.
Elena McComas
Elena McComas is the District 5 incumbent. She is defending her seat from challenger Dorothy Shelton Leslie.
McComas grew in Salisbury, graduated from Wicomico High and attended the University of Maryland, College Park, where she earned a bachelor of science in Science Education.
After marriage and three children, McComas returned to teaching and earned her master of science in molecular biology from Johns Hopkins University.
She spent 25 years as a middle and high school biology teacher. She opened two new high schools in California, serving seven years as high school science department chair, overseeing substantial budgets for high schools of 3,000 students.
McComas also spent five years as a college instructor, student teacher supervisor, and grant coordinator at California State University Long Beach.
She said she has an “expanded view of education from studentteacher preparation to classroom teaching to school leadership.”
In her personal life, McComas’ husband was a pastor, and as a pastor’s wife, she was “excited to be involved in and lead several church and community ministries.”
After retirement 11 years ago, McComas and her husband moved back to the Eastern Shore and became active in the community.
“With education being my passion and love, I decided to run for our board of education in 2016 and was elected,” she said.
As a Worcester County Public Schools board member, McComas served as vice president and president. She stepped up as president in 2021 after former position holder Eric Cropper passed away unexpectedly.
“As president, it was during difficult and tragic times, losing a special friend and then navigating the challenges of the pandemic,” McComas said.
“I am thankful for the competence and resilience of our amazing district personnel, teachers and staff during those difficult times.
“My overall experience on the school board has taught me to listen and research when new ideas are presented to maximize student involvement and minimize possible negative impacts.”
Dorothy Shelton Leslie
Dorothy Shelton Leslie is challenging incumbent Elena McComas for the board of education’s District 5 seat.
Leslie raised her two sons in Cecil County, Maryland, and has lived in Ocean Pines for over 20 years. She has seven grandchildren of her own and another seven grandchildren through her husband.
“Their school and sports events keep us joyously busy,” she said.
Her list of experiences include teaching elementary school, reading, and adult education, acting as a product manager for early childhood materials, working as a sales trainer for Clement Communications, working as an adjunct professor at University of Delaware, serving on the National Reading Council and serving on the State of Delaware testing committee acting as a senior National Consultant for McGraw-Hill and Houghton Mifflin Publishing.
She also has served as a speaker for national, regional, and local educational meetings such as International Reading Association and State Reading Conferences, and a supervisor of reading, social studies, ESL, libraries, and staff development.
She acted as a consultant for Prentice Hall Publishing Company, authored a social studies book on Delaware, several articles in the Reading Teacher and other published magazines, and received the Administrator of the Year Award from the Delaware Library Association.
Leslie served on the boards of directors for several groups, including the Worcester County Arts Council, the Ocean Pines Pinetones, and the Pines Players.
She is a member of the Community Church of Ocean Pines and the Wheels That Heal Car Club and has volunteer experience with Angels Attic and Nook at Community Church and the Lions Club essay contest.
Leslie is a singer who participates in choral and musical groups such as the Ocean Pines Pinetones, Local Vocals of Ocean Pines, Psalm 66 Praise Band, and the Pines Players.
In advance of the election, this newspaper posed two questions to each candidate. The following are their individual responses.
Q. What distinguishes you as a candidate for the Board of Education? Please provide at least three attributes you feel make you suitable for a board of education position.
Andes: Three attributes that qualify me to be a board of education member are my years of experience in education, my ability to be an active listener and my approach as a problem solver.
I have 49 years of experience working in public education as a teacher, school administrator, superintendent, university professor, and board member.
That experience gives me the expertise and knowledge to help personnel in our school system adopt policies and practices to keep our students and staff safe, understand student achievement data to celebrate success and identify needs, and effectively implement the Blueprint for Maryland’s Future.
As a listener, I strive to ask the right questions and actively listen to understand the needs of our students, parents, staff, and bus contractors.
I deeply care about our community. The only way to discover the
Jon Andes
Cheryl Middleton
Elena McComas
Dorothy Shelton Leslie
WORCESTER COUNTY BOARD OF EDUCATION
needs of our community is to engage and listen.
By attending school activities like Back-to-School nights, student performances, and athletic contests, I have had the opportunity to engage, listen, and learn.
From personal interactions, I share commendations and concerns with our school system leadership and board members with the goal of resolving problems. And I am a problem solver. I engage, listen and strive to find win-win solutions. As a “come here” who has lived here for 28 years, I chose to “stay here” and give back. Serving as a board member is one way that I strive to make a lasting difference.
Middleton: Understands the challenges that teachers face: I come from a long line of public-school teachers and administrators—parents were teachers and guidance counselors, grandfather was an art teacher, uncle was a high school principal, and numerous cousins were teachers and superintendents of schools.
I have also taught at the college level as an adjunct professor and was a guest lecturer at Georgetown and Harvard.
Strategic problem solver with a strong background in business: I worked as a professional consultant in the areas of innovation and strategic planning for decades.
I understand the needs of the community with respect to long term planning and educational needs and am adept at problem-solving and developing and analyzing multi-million-dollar budgets.
Prioritizes students, teachers, and parents: I see the need to ensure that all students in Worcester County get an outstanding education and are prepared for life outside the classroom, regardless of what path theytake.
Teachers need to be supported and well-compensated as they teach our children, and parents deserve to know what their children are being taught.
McComas: As a lifelong educator with experience in teaching, in school leadership, and blessed to be part of a wide range of educational opportunities from middle school to college, I felt I could contribute to our educational system.
Now, with seven-plus years’ experience on our school board, I have a foundation of working with district and school personnel and teachers and understanding our options and restrictions due to federal and state laws.
We have limited local control, but
I work diligently to ensure our parents can still be involved, including being able to opt out of certain curricula.
Although I have my personal opinions and beliefs, our community members have differing thoughts on various topics. It’s important to listen.
Parent involvement is important to me, and I want to ensure parents have the oversight to be part of their children’s education. I’ve spoken with parents who have varying opinions.
With Maryland’s Freedom to Read Act now in the picture, I’m thankful we have a protocol for our parents to prevent their students from checking out specific books if they are concerning to them.
There is no better way to learn about our schools, our personnel and our kids than through just being there. Regularly visiting classrooms, activities, events, and workshops is imperative.
Whether it’s a MakerSpace class at Showell Elementary or a Safety Workshop being presented by Berlin Intermediate and Stephen Decatur Middle School, it becomes a learning experience, a community get-together, and an open communication line to parents and teachers.
Leslie: With all my life experiences in over 40 years, I am the most qualified candidate and will hit the road running. I will do my homework and research needed to be knowledgeable about decisions coming before the board.
I will not just rubber-stamp whatever comes before us. I am a hard worker who is passionate about education and student success for all.
I am a good listener and have knowledge from a parent’s, a teacher’s, and an administrator’s point of view.
I have helped to develop districtwide budgets and worked on improving instruction and student learning. I have a broad background in subject matter, both from teaching and from supervising multiple subjects. I also ran my own company until retirement, so I have both school and business experience.
I will always decide on what is best for our students’ learning. I will be a fresh perspective for the board with a strong knowledge base to contribute to the leadership and wide range of decisions a school board must make. I am the best candidate.
Q. If elected, what will be your priorities as a Board of Education member? Please list at least three goals.
Andes: Three priorities are en-
suring school safety, increasing student achievement, and expanding programs to bridge between high school and career.
I will continue to work with law enforcement to expand our School Resource Deputy (SRD) program, advocate building improvements, and promote proactive safety initiatives.
On Maryland state tests, our students rank first in English / reading and second in mathematics. As a highly successful school system, we must celebrate our success while identifying areas for improvement. I will stress the need to analyze achievement data to identify student needs for intervention.
We know students at, or above, grade level in grade 3 are consistently successful in grades 4-12. Therefore, I will work to enhance and expand our early childhood program.
Finally, we need to continue to implement opportunities for students to graduate prepared to enter a career that pays a living wage with benefits or attend technical school or college.
As superintendent, I expanded our dual enrollment and advanced placement courses.
I led the initiative to build Worcester Tech (WTHS), which opened in 2005. WTHS provides students with the opportunity to participate in an internship, earn a high school diploma, and achieve industry certification.
This allows our graduates to immediately get a job in our community, one that pays a living wage.
As a board member, I will aggressively advocate for school safety, use data to hold the board and leadership team accountable for student achievement, and promote the expansion of our dual enrollment and career internship programs.
Middleton: 1. Take political agendas out of our schools and focus on core subjects and academic proficiency.
2. Ensure all our graduates have life skills and are prepared for trade, college, and/or career.
3. Allow only girls in girls’ bathrooms and girls’ sports.
4. Make our schools safer for students and teachers.
5. Require parental approval for curriculum and/or books with sexually explicit content.
6. Work diligently on the annual Board of Education budget to ensure that teacher compensation is prioritized. My opponent did not fight for these, but I will.
McComas: We have had tremendous success in our Worcester County Schools in several areas over the past few years.
My focus in the future is to continue that success.
Parental Involvement: We are in a partnership with parents concerning their child’s education. Parents must be able to exercise their responsibilities within the law, including opt-out options for certain curricula and being able to stop their students from checking out specific books from the library.
Continued Academic Excellence: This includes recruiting the best educators and staff and working to provide the salary raises they so deserve.
This also means maintaining smaller class sizes. Along with outstanding teachers, small class sizes are our superpower, which are key reasons our kids have been so successful academically!
In that vein, we must continue to support our arts and music education programs as well as all our technical high school programs which have amassed so many awards and allowed so many students to enter successful careers.
Safe Schools: Our teamwork of school administration and resource officers has made safety a priority. With new protocols in place and continued training (which I was privileged to attend), our school incidents dropped 28% last year to 2013 levels.
The Maryland Dept. of Education has commended us and asked we share our successes with other counties.
Obviously, continued focus is imperative and includes our district safety committee, comprised of administrators, teachers, and parents, to continue studying how we can continue to help make our schools even safer
Leslie: 1. Take politics out of our schools and focus on core subjects and academic proficiency.
2. Improve school safety through consistent consequences for unacceptable student behavior.
3. Advocate for teacher compensation.
4. Require parental approval for their children to participate in curriculum and/or books with sexually explicit content.
5. Allow only biological girls in girls’ sports, bathrooms and locker rooms (find a solution for students who need an alternative that is not the girl’s bathroom).
6. More evening school board meetings and other ways of increasing parent involvement in their child’s education.
7. Support courses that prepare high school students for college, trade schools, school-to-work, and apprentice work so that all students are prepared for post-high school success.