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Ocean City

New Councilman Will Savage on His Vision for Ocean City

Image courtesy of Councilman Will Savage.
Image courtesy of Councilman Will Savage.

A hard-working and energetic eight-year-old boy carries in luggage and helps with housekeeping at the family business, Ocean Cityโ€™s Majestic Hotel, along 7th St. and the bustling Boardwalk. After a long day, the 80s kid enjoys the perks of resort living, munching on Thrasherโ€™s fries and riding his bike down the boards into the sunset. That once young boy, Will Savage, now 42, is taking his local pride to City Hall as a Councilman.

Sworn in Nov. 10, Savageโ€™s commitment to improving the quality of life for residents and tourists remains unwavering. Just a month into his term, Savage said his focus lies on serving the taxpayers and maintaining the townโ€™s status as a family-friendly resort.

โ€œI have the time and I feel that I owe it to the community. If you look back at the business leaders from the past, many of them have stepped up and run,โ€ Savage said. โ€œIโ€™m going to stay loyal to the cause. I’m here to work for the citizens, and serve whatever needs they have to best improve their quality of life and keep our city a world-class destination.โ€

Savage joins fellow newcomer Carol Proctor, a local realtor, along with five other veterans on the council. However, heโ€™s no stranger to the shore, growing up downtown and eventually running the Majestic Hotel, before his family sold the property in 2021 after 75 years.

Councilman Will Savage and his family. Image courtesy of Councilman Will Savage.

He said his decades spent living and breathing the hospitality industry served him well.

โ€œIt all taught me work ethic because you did whatever had to be done and you did the right thing. It teaches you to work with people and become a little bit more understanding,โ€ he said. โ€œWe would always go the extra mile because every single decision directly affected you.โ€

David Lurie, a hotelier, said Savage took him under his wing for nearly eight years at the Majestic Hotel and taught him everything he knows. โ€œA man of the people,โ€ he said Savage is the right man for Ocean City.

โ€œHe’s just a good guy. He cares about people and the town,โ€ Lurie said. โ€œHe taught me everything I know about working in the hotel and made me feel like a brother.โ€

Additionally, since the age of just 14, he has courageously served the town as a member of the Ocean City Volunteer Fire Company, rising the ranks to eventually become assistant chief.

Councilman Will Savage while serving with the Ocean City Volunteer Fire Company. Image courtesy of Councilman Will Savage.

For Jordan Braniff, the newly-minted assistant chief, Savageโ€™s election is welcome news.

โ€œWhenever you look at somebody in a leadership role, you want them to be well-rounded. Will has truly demonstrated service to the city from a volunteer perspective and an emergency services perspective, but also from a business perspective,โ€ Braniff said. โ€œWill understands all the different layers. He talks the talk when he says he cares about Ocean City.โ€

Today, he continues to operate the Boardwalk Convenience Store and also previously managed Down Under Sunglasses for eight years.

Adapting to council affairs quickly, Savage said he feels energetic about keeping mopeds off Coastal Highway, advocating for a sports complex, and supporting improvements such as building more pickleball courts. Plus, he said he hopes to cooperate with regional partners to reduce the traffic bottleneck at the Chesapeake Bay Bridge.

Image courtesy of Councilman Will Savage.

While many leaders often cite their frustrations or token issues as motivation for running, Savage insists that he simply felt a calling to serve.

โ€œIt feels natural to me in Ocean City and I just want to keep that family feel, keep Ocean City safe, and keep Ocean City relevant,โ€ he added. โ€œI’m most proud of our heritage and diverse tourist ecosystem. I’m proud of the totality of Ocean City with the hospitality product that we put out. I’m also proud of it being a family atmosphere and that this is someplace that I cherish and want to serve.โ€

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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