City Councilman Roy Wagner announced at a Friday afternoon press conference that he will not seek re-election for the Fourth Ward seat he has held for two four-year terms.

Wagner endorsed Pete Guinosso, a resident of the 4800 block of Central Avenue, as his successor.

Four seats on the seven-member City Council will be decided in the municipal election on May 8. The seats represent the city's four wards. Council also includes three at-large representatives who were elected in May 2010.

The deadline for City Council candidates to submit petitions is March 5.

"After eight years on City Council, preceded by four and a half years on the Zoning Board — both with perfect attendance — the time has come to semi-retire," Wagner said. "This is not an easy decision. But I have to take into account my family, scattered all over the States, my investments are a mess, and two terms are right for me."

"I love God, I love my wife (Edwina) and family, and along the way, I fell in love with Ocean City."

Wagner, 84, a World War II veteran who holds an MBA from Temple University and completed a career in management consulting, said he was pleased to announce his "wholehearted endorsement of Peter Guinosso."

Wagner said Guinosso has both the experience and the energy to serve the Fourth Ward well. He said Guinosso has been tireless in researching city issues as a citizen.

Wagner pointed out three areas where he believes Guinosso has valuable experience:

1. In identifying areas "where spending is too high.'
2. He "has consistently attacked overdevelopment."
3. He "has fought for more capital investment to repave streets and minimize flooding."

Guinosso, 71, retired from UPS in 1997 after a 35-year career as an engineering manager. He has owned property in Ocean City since 1975 and been a full-time resident since 2000, after growing up in Philadelphia.

He is an officer in the Fairness in Taxes citizens group, a member of the Planning Board and a member of the Ecumenical Council in Ocean City. He and his wife, Cathy, have four sons.

Guinosso said some of his goals, if elected would be:

• Fourth Ward roads and drainage — more attention to infrastructure.
• Transparency and openness in government — "letting taxpayers know more about our government."
• Keeping overdevelopment in check.
• Studying efficiencies to keep taxes low — "Can we have the same services with lower taxes?"

The Fourth Ward includes all homes south of 26th Street (and the Ocean Reef community off Tennessee Avenue).

The City Council seats currently held by John Kemenosh (First Ward), Karen Bergman (Second Ward) and Tony Wilson (Third Ward) will also be part of the May 2012 election.