Incumbent Rick Meehan, left, and Council President Matt James will both seek the mayoral seat in this fall’s municipal election.
Both incumbent Rick Meehan and Council President Matt James have officially entered the mayoral race, setting off another contested election in Ocean City.
Last Friday, Meehan made good on his plan to seek re-election by filing his candidate application with the city clerk’s office. By Monday morning, he was joined in the race by James, who will seek to unseat Ocean City’s longest serving mayor.
While both announced their plans to run this spring, the candidate applications make the contested election official. When asked about his bid for re-election Monday, Meehan said he hopes to continue representing the city, just as he has done for the last 20 years.
“This community has given so much to my family and me, and I still have the same passion, energy, and commitment to serve that I had the day I first took office,” he said in a statement. “While I am proud of what we have accomplished together, I also believe our best days are still ahead of us.”
Acknowledging speculation that he would not seek another term, Meehan said he believed it was important to announce his candidacy now. He pointed to the “responsible leadership” and “strong relationships” that made Ocean City what it was, and the efforts needed to move it forward.
“There will be plenty of time during this campaign to discuss my record, the issues before us, and my vision for the future. Today, I simply want to reaffirm my commitment to this community and respectfully ask for the opportunity to continue serving as your Mayor,” he said in a statement from his campaign.
James, a three-term councilman, stressed the need for change when asked about his reasons for seeking the mayoral seat.
“I’m running for mayor because I believe the time is right,” he said in a statement Monday. “I’ve served Ocean City for 12 years on the City Council, including six years as council president. I believe good towns become even better when they welcome positive change. I’m confident I can represent our town well, and it would be an honor to serve our residents as our next mayor.”