Steven Oleksy, once known on the ice as "the Mayor," has swapped his hockey stick for a campaign clipboard as he announces a bid for mayor of Edgewater, Florida.
From the rink to city hall
The former Washington Capitals defenseman grew up in a hockey‑rich environment that taught him the value of teamwork, discipline and community. Those lessons now guide his political platform, which centers on preserving the town’s modest charm while steering growth in a direction that residents can shape together.
Oleksy met his wife, Brooke Hogan, in 2018, and the couple soon relocated to Florida to be nearer to her family. Their search for a place that felt both simple and beautiful led them to Edgewater, a waterfront community that reminded them of the close‑knit neighborhoods they cherish.
A vision for Edgewater
The candidate stresses that Edgewater’s future should be decided by the people who call it home. He wants to protect the town from over‑development, ensure that new projects respect the existing character, and create opportunities for families like his own to raise children in a place he describes as proud and safe.
Incumbent mayor Diezel DePew, first elected in 2022, will face Oleksy in the upcoming race. DePew’s tenure has been marked by incremental development, but Oleksy argues that a fresh perspective is needed to balance progress with preservation.
Oleksy’s hockey career took him from the Capitals to the ECHL, the Toledo Walleye, and finally the Orlando Solar Bears, where he was traded to be closer to his wife’s family. The move not only brought him back to the ice but also anchored him in the community he now seeks to lead.
Beyond the rink, Oleksy credits his wife’s father, the wrestling legend Hulk Hogan, for inspiring his openness to public life, while his twins continue to shape his priorities as a father and a future mayor.