Voters will have three choices in the Ocean City mayoral election after incumbent Jay Gillian drew two challengers seeking to lead the city.
Gillian, who has served as mayor since 2010, is seeking his fifth four-year term. He will face Keith Hartzell, a Second Ward councilman who previously ran for mayor against him in 2022, and Peter Madden, the current vice president of City Council making his first run for the office.
Each candidate is running with a campaign slogan: Gillian with “Proven Leadership for a Stronger Tomorrow,” Hartzell with “Make Ocean City Even Better,” and Madden with “Leadership Ocean City Deserves.”
The municipal election will also determine three at-large seats on City Council, adding another competitive race to the ballot.
Gillian seeks fifth term
Gillian first ran for mayor in 2010 after growing frustrated with the state of the city’s infrastructure and government operations.
“It really all started with the lack of getting things done and our infrastructure was failing. Our boardwalk was failing. Our back bays were all choked up with mud, and there was fighting between the administration and the Council,” Gillian said. “I ran to, like the slogan says, just bring unity back and bring some common sense, and get things done.”
Now 61, Gillian said he is seeking another term to continue projects and improvements that began during his 16-year administration. Among the issues he cited are ongoing flood mitigation projects and continued infrastructure improvements across the island.
Gillian pointed to projects completed during his tenure, including beach replenishment, dredging of the back bays, upgrades to recreation facilities and utilities infrastructure.
“To me, it’s 16 years of success,” he said. “Ocean City is a much better and different place now.”
He added that the city’s upcoming police station project, which is scheduled to break ground in the fall, is another reason he wants to remain in office.
The mayor also addressed questions about his personal financial situation, emphasizing transparency and separation from city business.
“It has no effect at the end of the day,” Gillian said. “I don’t run from or hide from it…I hit everything head-on.”
Hartzell planning rematch
Hartzell is preparing for a rematch with Gillian after losing the 2022 mayoral election by about 400 votes.
He formally announced his mayoral campaign via social media on Wednesday, Feb. 25.
Although he had not formally entered the race when first discussing his plans, Hartzell said he began what he described as a “soft announcement” by meeting directly with residents across the city.
“What I like to do is knock on doors and talk to people, and make sure that what I’m thinking is what they’re thinking,” Hartzell told Shore Local in January. “So when I go to announce, and I have my platform, it will be vetted from door-to-door activity every day.”
Hartzell said those conversations with residents guide his campaign strategy.
“I’m formulating my strategy. I’m out talking to people…This is a time when I go knock on doors every day, and I talk to people, and I gather information and research,” he said. “I mean, you can poll or you can go talk to people. I go talk to people. I’m a living room, front porch guy.”
Hartzell previously served on council before his 2022 mayoral run and later returned to the governing body.
One issue that motivated his earlier campaign was development on the former Gillian’s Wonderland Pier site on the Boardwalk.
“I was very concerned that Gillian’s would cease to exist one day, and that Mr. Mita would want to build a high-rise hotel,” Hartzell said. “And that’s exactly what happened.”
While he supports redevelopment of the site, Hartzell said he does not favor a tall hotel structure there.
“I don’t mind some kind of a hotel, but not a high rise,” he said.
Hartzell has said he favors a mixed-use redevelopment concept that would maintain boardwalk-style entertainment along the oceanfront portion of the property, with lodging located toward the rear.
For now, he said his focus remains on hearing directly from residents before finalizing a detailed platform.
“This is just a time to go out and talk to people and listen,” Hartzell said.
Madden enters race for first time
Madden, who currently serves as City Council vice president, is running for mayor for the first time after more than a decade in local government.
He began his public service in 2009 with a term on the Ocean City Board of Education.
“I like the idea of being involved in the kids’ school. I have four kids. All went through the Ocean City School District. Being involved in school, to me, was helpful in understanding what was happening, why it was happening and having some influence on decisions that are made,” Madden said.
He later transitioned to City Council, where he has served for roughly 12 years, including seven years as council president and two as vice president.
He said his decision to run for mayor stems from his belief that the role allows him to have a greater impact on key decisions facing the city.
“I thought that Ocean City needed leadership from the mayor seat,” Madden said. “I’ve been on council for 12 years and moving into some of the decisions that we have to make coming up soon with the city, I thought I was better suited to help impact the city as mayor versus on council.”
Among the major issues he cited are the future of the Wonderland site and several ongoing capital projects.
Madden said Ocean City’s beaches and Boardwalk remain central to the community’s identity and economy.
“To me, the beach and the boardwalk are the crown jewels of Ocean City, and we want to make sure that we have enough sand on the beaches for everybody coming down, and we have a boardwalk that is first class again,” he said.
The candidate said communication and collaboration would be key aspects of his leadership style.
“I believe that the biggest thing that separates me from the other two is the ability to really tie everybody together,” he said. “I work very hard to communicate. Regardless of who you are, regardless of whether I like you or I don’t like you, I have a job to do.”
He added that voters will ultimately decide who is best suited for the position.
“The job I’m applying for is Mayor, and I’m hoping that the voters, who are the interviewers, see the qualities that I have that are going to help Ocean City going into the future, and will hire me for the job,” Madden said.
Council race also forming
The May 12 election will also include a race for three at-large seats on City Council.
Incumbents Sean Barnes and Tony Polcini will run alongside newcomers Jocelyn Palaganas and longtime Ocean City resident Jim Kelly.
With three mayoral candidates and multiple council contenders on the ballot, voters will decide the city’s leadership for the next four years when they head to the polls in two months.
Photo credit: Jay Gillian, Keith Hartzell and Pete Madden Facebooks
