Jay Gillian: A Mayor With a Lifetime of Service to the Community

By MEDIAWIZE When Jay Gillian was elected Mayor of Ocean City in 2010, it was just the latest role in a lifetime of service to the community and the region. Jay has literally worked all of his adult life to make Ocean City a better place. Jay’s dedication has positively touched the lives of many in Ocean City, whether they realize it or not. His many years of service on the board of Shore Memorial Hospital, now Shore Medical Center, included two terms as Chairman. During his time on the board, Shore Medical Center has grown into one of New Jersey’s leading medical providers with affiliations with several prestigious Philadelphia hospitals and providers. When asked, Jay Gillian might tell you his time spent on the Ocean City Board of Education provided the opportunity for his most important work, to maintain and improve the opportunities of our local youth. He served multiple terms as Board President and was heavily involved in the planning, approval and construction of the new Ocean City High School. Jay states: “I hate to imagine what our community would be like today if we had not retained the high school. The economic, academic and positive social impacts of this great facility give Ocean City a year-round vibrancy and life. Most importantly, the high school provides academic and extra-curricular opportunities that are the envy of the region.” Some of Jay Gillian’s service has involved lighter activities. As the President of First Night Ocean City, he and a group of dedicated volunteers developed First Night into one of Ocean City’s favorite special events, enjoyed by hundreds of thousands of residents and visitors over the years. He has provided similar contributions to a wide array of organizations and programs including the Greater Ocean City Chamber of Commerce, the Ocean City Historical Museum, the Boardwalk Merchants Association and Business and Neighborhood Development Inc. (BAND), The First Tee Foundation, Gilda’s Club and the Hero Foundation. His dedication and hard work have often been out of the spotlight, but not always, as Jay was named Ocean City Citizen of the Year in 1999, received the prestigious Bailey Award for Community Service by the Atlantic City Press in 2008 and was awarded the annual Book of Golden Deeds by the Ocean City Exchange Club in 2009. Jay came about his dedication to Ocean City following in the footsteps of his father and grandfather who first began creating Ocean City memories in 1929 for literally millions of locals and visitors to the Ocean City boardwalk. It was in that year that Jay’s grandfather, David Gillian, established Gillian’s Fun Deck just prior to the Great Depression. David’s sons Roy (Jay’s father) and Bob Gillian continued to grow and operate the amusement park together until 1964, when Roy built and established Wonderland Pier a few blocks away. Roy Gillian set the example for Jay to always work to give back to the community that was so good to them. And give back they have. Roy served as a Cape May County Freeholder in the 1970s and was the original Mayor Gillian when elected to the office in 1986. Today, at age 92, Roy Gillian remains engaged in local affairs as he observes his son Jay leading Ocean City. Occasionally, he still offers Jay some wise and valuable advice and guidance on Ocean City issues. Jay decided to take the big step of running for Mayor of his hometown in 2010, under the slogan “Unity in the Community,” which some found a little corny. But Jay took it to heart and built a wide and varied network of supporters who were tired of seeing their local government’s progress too often stalled or gridlocked as elected officials, partisan politicians, special interests and others spent unproductive time bickering and maneuvering for their own self interests. An atmosphere developed that all too often made progress impossible to achieve. It was an atmosphere intolerable to someone like Jay Gillian, who had no time for public posturing, grandstanding or other nonsense that was holding Ocean City back from achieving its full potential. He ran his first campaign by painting a rather simple picture. He would work in unity with the City Council, the community, other levels of government and virtually anyone who cared about maintaining and improving what Ocean City had always been and what it could become. He vowed to tell the truth, to admit when he made a mistake and to work tirelessly to address the most pressing needs of the community related to deteriorated and inadequate infrastructure. The community responded, electing Jay Gillian to his first term, and he immediately got to work fulfilling his promises. A new atmosphere emerged in the City’s public discourse, as all the elected officials worked together, respected each other and worked toward the common good for Ocean City. Problems began to get solved, things began to be repaired or built new, all under a sound and sustainable financial plan that has kept taxes low and stable. Some longtime Ocean City residents see striking similarities between Mayor Jay Gillian and his father, Mayor Roy Gillian. Neither of them ever considered himself to be typical politicians. That’s not to say they can’t work a room, shake everybody’s hand and pose for photos. But local residents are more likely to see their Mayor on the site of a city construction project, at a youth recreation program or personally watching our local public safety forces handle an emergency, than they are at a formal business meeting. This approach was perhaps never more on display than in the days following Superstorm Sandy. Mayor Gillian seemed to literally be everywhere as he led a recovery effort that saw Ocean City cleaned up, open and ready to resume business quicker than any other shore community. Most importantly, he worked tirelessly to cut red tape and get people back in their homes. Other challenges have been met with the same proactive and hands-on approach. Unprecedented attention has been paid to the City’s infrastructure, as roads and drainage have been improved, island-wide beach and dune systems have been built and maintained, lagoons and back bay areas have been dredged, large parcels of open space have been acquired, new recreational facilities have been built and the boardwalk has been completely rebuilt from 5th to 12th Streets along with new pavilions and restrooms. When asked about his accomplishments, Jay is quick to point out that the City team of professionals and the overall workforce, along with the City Council and numerous community partners and residents, have all worked together to achieve great things throughout his tenure as Mayor. He has decided to seek another term in office to continue this positive momentum and fully complete the objectives that have been set. You don’t need to spend much time with Mayor Gillian to see that he loves what he is doing, which instills a confidence that Ocean City is better off now, and in the future, with Jay Gillian as its Mayor. Paid for by "Jay Gillian for Mayor."