Gillian, Hartzell filed their 29-day pre-election donation-spending reports
OCEAN CITY — In the 29-day pre-election reports filed by Ocean City’s mayoral candidates, incumbent Jay Gillian has raised more money — mostly through self-funding — than challenger Keith Hartzell.
In his report filed April 11, Gillian reported raising $64,050 and having spent $39,057.
Hartzell, the long-serving at-large councilman, reported raising $27,462 and having spent $6,632.
Most of Gillian’s contributions have come in amounts of more than $300, which requires reporting on an individual basis by contribution. Donations less than $300 to the Gillian campaign totaled $4,050.
Hartzell has raised $11,562 via donations of $300 or less and the remaining $15,400 in larger contributions.
For Hartzell, the three largest contributors — Maria Chew (retired) of Wesley Road, Ocean City; Paul Levchuk (retired) of Naples, Fla.; and Lund’s Fisheries Inc. of Cape May — each donated $2,600.
Donating $1,000 each were Gregg Balin, (retired), who listed his home address as Cape Coral, Fla.; Helena Hamilton of Could Be Yours Consignment LLC, of 716 Asbury Ave., Ocean City; Harry Hill (no occupation listed) of Landenberg, Pa.; Albert Kendro (retired) of Plaza Place, Ocean City; and Edward Vaughn (retired) of Bay Avenue, Ocean City.
Other donations exceeding $300 to the Hartzell campaign as of the reporting date were Robert Marceluk (retired) of Plaza Place, $500; Padula Masonry Inc. of Simpson Avenue, Ocean City, $500; Vincent Iannace CPA of Glencove Ave., Northfield, $500; Benjamin Green (retired) of Jacksonville, Fla., $500; and Suzanne Barr (retired) of Roosevelt Boulevard, Ocean City, $600.
Hartzell also loaned $500 to his campaign.
Gillian, of Aberdeen Road, Ocean City, reported contributing a total of $56,000 to his campaign.
Large donors to the Gillian campaign as of the reporting date were Anthony and Carol Frank (retired) of West 17th Street, Ocean City, $2,000; Scott and Jane Halliday of Halliday-Leonard General Contractors of Ocean City, $1,000; and Janice and Will Morey of Morey’s Piers and Water Parks of Wildwood Crest, $1,000.
Spending
Among the largest expenditures for Hartzell’s campaigns were $3,500 to Media Wize of Ocean City for internet advertising; $3,131 to JASM Consulting of Ninth Street, Ocean City for mixed media.
The largest expenditures for the Gillian campaign were $12,225 to Jamestown Associations of Philadelphia for media production; $7,813 to MC Signs of Woodbine for billboards and lawn signs; $6,000 to Interstate Outdoor Advertising of Atlantic City for billboards and lawn signs; $5,865 to Longport Media of Linwood for radio spots; $4,419 to Sample Media Inc. (Ocean City Sentinel) of Ocean City for newspaper advertising; and $1,078 to Copiers Plus of Ocean City for office supplies and printing.
Campaign
Gillian is seeking his fourth term in office after first being elected mayor in 2010. He won re-election in 2014 and 2018.
Hartzell has served as an at-large member of Ocean City Council since 2006. He announced in September 2021 that he would not seek another term on council and would instead run for mayor.
Election Day is May 10.
Also on the ballot for Ocean City voters are three at-large City Council seats. Running for those seats are six candidates: incumbents Pete Madden and Karen Bergman, sitting Second Ward Councilman Tom Rotondi, former First Ward councilman Michael DeVlieger, Donna Moore, who ran in November for the First Ward seat, and newcomer John “Tony P” Polcini.
– By DAVID NAHAN/Sentinel staff