Fresh voice for the future of the 2nd Ward.

Join many of your friends supporting Paul.

The normally quiet ground floor of City Hall was anything but that when Paul Stryker and his family arrived with around 25 of Paul’s supporters to file approximately 200 petitions for his candidacy for Second Ward City Council. Paul is seeking to be elected, as the Ocean City Second Ward Councilperson to represent and help the residents of the Second Ward with their everyday city related Issues. Paul intends to be approachable and available through Ward Meetings, a simply email or phone call to understand the concerns and challenges of the residents of the second ward.

Paul believes the second ward is in need of a fresh new voice. A voice familiar with the second ward as a resident parent and business manager.

Paul's many years of managing Arlene’s Restaurant on Asbury Avenue awarded him a great perspective on the issues of the residents and business owners of not only the second ward but Ocean City as a whole. “It’s amazing how the restaurant was a “Cheers type” of community gathering spot where people sat and talked about the goings on in Ocean City”. Although Arlene was the front person and personality of Arlene’s, Paul was the chef and ran the back end of the business. Paul had to keep his finger on the pulse of not only the cyclical aspects of the Ocean City market but also on the ups and downs of the economy as a whole. Paul was responsible for managing the kitchen, hiring of employees, payroll, inventory. Through his experience managing a restaurant he learned when to spend money for smart business growth or cut back to get through a downturn or unforeseen event like Superstorm Sandy or Covidb19. His experience has taught him to be frugal and he intends to bring that quickly reactive business sense to Ocean City government.

Caring is another thing that Paul and Arlene have brought to the Ocean City community. They were always there to help the less than fortunate ones in the community. Arlene and Paul hosted a fundraiser for 20 years in memory of her son Charles Knox, who passed away tragically in 1998 in a car crash. They called it The Charles Knox Comedy Night. They raised over $200,000 dedicated to a scholarship fund for Ocean City students.

Lastly, but most importantly is family and history. Paul and Arlene moved into their 7th Street home in 1992 (yes, it’s the one with all of the Christmas lights). They raised their 3 children there and are very quick to point out how happy they are that their adult children have decided to continue to make Ocean City their home and work locally. “Our roots in Ocean City are deep and thank the Lord our children have decided to keep Ocean City part of the family tree for a least another generation”. “That was the final piece of the puzzle that convinced me that now was the time to enter City service to ensure that Ocean City is a safe, clean and FAMILY oriented community for many years into the future”.