Meet The Ocean City Mayoral Candidate: Jay Gillian

OCEAN CITY, NJ — There are two candidates running for mayor in Ocean City's non-partisan elections on May 8. The mayor serves a four-year term and is the head of the administration in Ocean City. He works with Ocean City Council, but is not a council member and doesn't have a vote.

Ocean City Patch sent a series of questions to each candidate in this year's elections. The questions listed below are listed as sent, and each answer is published as received, with corrections for minor errors.

The subject of today's "Meet the Candidate" profile is Jay Gillian.

Why are you running for Ocean City Mayor?

I want to continue the progress the city team has made as in stabilizing operating expenses and in making long-overdue improvements to roads, drainage, the beach, bay and boardwalk, the downtown and other public spaces and facilities. I'm proud of what has been accomplished during my first two terms. I want to see these jobs through and take on more needed improvements.

In my first term, I ran on a platform of "Unity in the Community." Some probably found that a little corny, but it’s what I believe. I intend to continue to work together with the administration, the city team, the City Council, the schools, community groups and churches, property owners and residents to make sure Ocean City remains a great place to live, raise a family, invest or visit.

I love what I'm doing, and I love Ocean City.

Have you ever held a public elected office?
I've spent all of my adult life working to make Ocean City a better place:
Mayor, 2010 - 2018
Ocean City Board of Education, 2002 - 2010 (also served as president)
Appointments:
Ocean City Library Board of Trustees, 2010 - 2018
Shore Memorial Hospital / Shore Medical Center Board of Directors (served as chairman)
First Night Ocean City Board of Directors
Miss New Jersey Pageant Board of Directors
First Tee of Greater Atlantic City Board of Directors
New Jersey Amusement Association Board of Directors
Shore Tomorrow Campaign Co-Chairman
Ocean City Historical Museum Board of Directors
Ocean City Boardwalk Merchants Association Past President
Ocean City Business and Neighborhood Development Inc. Past President

Why do you feel you are qualified to serve as Ocean City Mayor?

I believe the accomplishments of my first two terms speak for themselves. To have taken on and completed so many essential infrastructure projects while maintaining Ocean City's exceptional AA bond rating, relatively low tax rate, and impeccable audits is a tribute to the first-rate team I've built. I think I bring a private-sector mentality and urgency to a public-sector position.

What is the biggest issue facing Ocean City? How do you feel the issue should be addressed by the mayor?

For eight years, I've listened to residents who want to see continued improvements to our infrastructure. The biggest investment for most of our residents is their home here in Ocean City. The value of that investment and the quality of their lives here is tied to a functioning roads and drainage system and to all of our amenities and facilities.

The uninterrupted continuation of our aggressive five-year capital improvement plan is vital to everybody in town. We have increased our capital plan in the most cost efficient manner possible.

What do you feel is Ocean City's biggest asset at this time? How would you exploit that asset to the city's benefit?

Ocean City's biggest asset will always be its location. The beach, boardwalk, bay and downtown will always be the things that things that make "America's Greatest Family Resort" unique. Our $10 million investment in completely rebuilding the boardwalk from sand to railing between Fifth Street and 12th Street is one example. All of our beaches are now protected by 50-year agreements with the Army Corps of Engineers for a regular cycle of replenishment projects, including the southend of the island for the first time. Our bayside dredging program is restarted and we're making major improvements to the downtown. These investments are essential not only to the economy and local business owners but to all property owners in town.

How do you plan to balance spending and revenue in tough economic times?

Municipal governments do not have the luxury of operating at a deficit as the federal government does. We deliver balanced budgets every year.

I'm proud to have controlled spending and held taxes to responsible levels for each of my eight years. I also feel it's important not only to balance budgets but to maintain healthy fund balances. This conservative approach helps us maintain cash flow in emergencies as it did after Superstorm Sandy, and it leads to our exceptional bond ratings. Staffing levels have remained steady over the years, and salaries and wages are actually down slightly in our proposed budget for this year.

The administration, with guidance from professional outside labor counsel, negotiated the most favorable labor contracts for the taxpayers in the city's history four years ago. The contracts provided fair salary increases of approximately 1.2% a year, significantly less than previous contracts. These contracts, combined with needed reform of pension and benefit costs have been key factors in the financial stability of the city. We will look for similar austerity in new contract negotiations.

City team members are working across department lines more than ever before and are truly "doing more with less" as they deliver the services our residents, property owners and guests expect and deserve.

What do you feel is the best way for the administration and City Council to interact when it comes to drafting and passing legislation?

I've worked in partnership with City Council to restore civility to local government affairs. The days of bickering and grandstanding are over. Now when elected officials or the administration and council differ in opinion, they work together to reach consensus on policy decisions, projects and funding. We don't always agree, but an atmosphere of mutual respect ensures the best compromises and outcomes.

The attached image of Jay Gillian was provided