James N. Mathias, Jr
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Jim Mathias (D-Ocean City) is a delegate in the Maryland House of Delegates. He was appointed to serve out the term of the late Bennett Bozman on June 13, 2006. On Novermber 7, 2006 he was elected to serve a full term. The former mayor of Ocean City, Maryland, was born on September 2, 1951 in Baltimore, Maryland. During his childhood, he lived in Baltimore City, Baltimore County and Carroll County, Maryland. He attended high school at Calvert Hall College in Towson, graduating in 1969. In 1974, Jim Mathias graduated from the University of Maryland Baltimore County, with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science.
Jim first came to Ocean City as a child, with his parents for summer vacations and it was then that he first fell in love with Ocean City, Maryland. His first Ocean City summer job was at Ponzetti’s Pizza on the Boardwalk in 1972. In September of 1972, his father acquired property in downtown Ocean City and built his amusement/arcade business. In March of 1974, Jim’s father died of a heart attack. Jim graduated from college that same year and decided to move to Ocean City fulltime to run the family business.
In 1978 he married Kathleen A. Petry and they have two children: Lauren, 22, and Trevor, 13. Jim has continued to work in Ocean City as a small business owner. He owns a retail store in downtown Ocean City.
Jim has been active in the Ocean City community. He served as Chairman of the Worcester County Ambulance Service Committee; with involved with the Berlin - Ocean City Jaycees; was Chairman of the Ocean City Humane Society Commission; is a member of the Knights of Columbus #9053; is a member of St. Mary’s Star of the Sea Parish; and serves as a member of the Ocean City Volunteer Fire Company, Engine 703. Jim represents the Coastal Bays Watershed, Ocean City and Worcester County on the State of Maryland Critical Area Commission and served as State Chairman for the 2004 WalkAmerica for the March of Dimes. Jim is the President of the Lower Eastern Shore Mayors Association for 2004 and is the Honored Chairperson for the Light the Night Walk and The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society for 2004.
Jim began his political career in Ocean City in 1987 when he was appointed to the Ocean City Board of Zoning Appeals, where he served until 1990. In October of 1990, he was elected as an Ocean City Councilman and was re-elected to that post in 1994. In October of 1996, Jim Mathias was elected as Mayor of Ocean City, Maryland. He was re-elected in 1998,2000,2002,and 2004.
