Ocean City Mayor Jay Gillian officially announced his reelection campaign, while his multi-million-dollar bankruptcy case unfolds in the background.
“I’m running for one simple reason,” Gillian said in a video published online by his campaign. “I believe deeply in this community, and I know there’s important work still to do.”
Gillian officially began his reelection bid about a month after teasing his campaign in late 2025, by promising an administration rooted in collaborative politics,
Meanwhile, Gillian is working to resolve his roughly $6 million in debt after filing in December for Chapter 11 protections in New Jersey U.S. District Bankruptcy court.
His initial filing shows Gillian and his wife owe about $2.5 million combined to the IRS and the New Jersey Division of Taxation.
Gillian has served four terms as mayor beginning in 2010. His latest campaign is his first since his business, Wonderland Pier, the dormant theme park that bore his family’s name for decades, closed amid financial shortfalls.
In his campaign statement, Gillian dismissed public claims that he financially benefited from closing the theme park, saying the accusation publicly floated “simply isn’t true.”
He also used the campaign launch to distance his bankruptcy case from public office, repeating his position that seeking financial help was a “personal” decision.
“Nobody loved Wonderland more than I did,” Gillian said. “It was my life, my family business and my legacy. I lost everything trying to keep it alive. Long after I knew it was time, my heart wouldn’t let it go.”
Gillian vowed to protect Ocean City’s family friendly atmosphere during summer while touting his administration’s progress in stabilizing local taxes and achieving high-ranking bond ratings.
“Using a personal loss to question the integrity of this administration for the work we’ve done for Ocean City is unfair to the outstanding professionals and dedicated volunteers who serve this city with integrity every day,” Gillian said.
Gillian is the only candidate to announce his run so far.
Keith Hartzell, who holds Ocean City’s 2nd Ward council seat has made a “soft announcement” at another mayor run but has not officially entered the race, he confirmed to NJ Advance Media on Monday.
Gillian and Hartzell were pitted against each other for mayor in 2022, with voters delivering Gillian a comfortable victory, 4,334 to 3,207.
