Ocean City Mayoral Candidates Discuss Goals In Candidate Forum

OCEAN CITY, NJ — A candidate forum gave current Mayor Jay Gillian and challenger Councilman Keith Hartzell a chance to express their views on Ocean City's most controversial topics and their goals for the city on Monday night.

Gillian, who has been mayor since 2010, spent the evening highlighting his accomplishments leading Ocean City.

"The mayor thing has been an unbelievable 12 years," Gillian said in his opening statement. He added that what he was most proud of was how its been a collaboration of people.

"We have great leaders, but most of all, we've got great citizens," Gillian said. "And I'm proud to be your mayor."

Hartzell, City Council member since 2006, said that he has been a "fierce advocate" of the people for the past 16 years.

"I believe we're at a tipping point in the direction of how this town is going to go," Hartzell said.

Hartzell has been going door-to-door to speak with residents, which he emphasized repeatedly throughout the night, and said that it is time for new leadership in Ocean City.

"I want to preserve our past and secure our future," Hartzell said.

Hartzell said he is running for mayor because his hands are tied as a councilman. As mayor, he said, there is more power and influence on the town's planning. And Hartzell said that he and residents agree that they do not like the direction the town is heading.

The hour-long forum, sponsored by the Ocean City Sentinel, was a lighthearted affair, with the two mayoral candidates often agreeing in their issues and even making jokes with each other.

Both candidates vehemently disagreed with alcohol being brought into the dry town, which has been a popular subject lately.

"When it comes to alcohol, I'm absolutely against it," Gillian said. He emphasized that he has been personally against alcohol for his entire life.

"I think Ocean City is America's greatest family resort," Gillian said, adding that the town has a lot of great restaurants but alcohol is not needed.

Hartzell shared similar views. "I'm absolutely dead set against alcohol sales," he said.

He explained that Ocean City has a tradition against alcohol. Hartzell said that being dry is Ocean City's "brand" and that people come here specifically because of that.

"I like Ocean City the way it is," he said.

Another hot topic brought up was the potential for high rises to be built in Ocean City. Read More: Will Ocean City Boardwalk Have High Rise Hotels?: Report

Hartzell said he is against high rises, but shared that Gillian attended a meeting in February with Boardwalk property owners where developer Eustace Mita pitched a $150 million hotel in Ocean City.

"I think it's serious," Hartzell said. "I think it's clear and present danger."

Gillian insisted that high rise hotels at Wonderland Pier are not permitted. He added that Mita has things that he wants to do, but he cannot.

He said that he cannot be bought and that in his 12 year as mayor, Gillian has not allowed high rises to be built. "As long as I'm mayor it's absolutely not going to happen," he said.

The two candidates differed when it came to the topic of wind farms in Ocean City, which residents have been concerned about for years.

Read More: Ocean City Mayor Addresses Offshore Wind Farm Concerns

"As mayor, my job is to educate, so everyone can make their own mind up," Gillian said. He said that he would not tell people whether to support it or not, but to educate them so they can decide on their own. He added that he has been working with Orsted to move Ocean Wind 1 out further.

Gillian said that they need electric in South Jersey in case a massive storm knocks power out so that Ocean City does not need to rely on North Jersey.

Hartzell said he was opposed to Ocean Wind 1, adding that he was a fan of natural gas. He accused Gillian of negotiating with Orsted for two years and leaving the council in the dark.

"The majority of the public is against it," Hartzell said.

He added that it was an issue of home rule being taken away, and that he would fight and resist.

"We must get our home rule back at all costs," Hartzell said.

You can watch the entirety of the forum, which was followed by a forum for the three at-large City Council candidates, here.