Mayors of Ocean City, New Jersey

Last updated
Mayor of the City of Ocean City
Jay Gillian.jpg
Incumbent
Jay Gillian
since 2010
Type Mayor–council
StatusActive
Term length Four years
Formation1884 (1884)
First holderGainer P. Moore
Website www.ocnj.us

The Mayor of the City of Ocean City is the head of the executive branch of government of Ocean City, New Jersey, United States.

Contents

Since Ocean City was chartered as a borough in 1884, 22 individuals have held the office of mayor. Four mayors served two or more non-consecutive terms. Gainer P. Moore was the inaugural mayor of the city, who served on three separate occasions for a total of ten years. The current mayor is Jay Gillian, who was first elected in May 2010, and re-elected in 2014, 2018, and 2022. [1]

History

Beginning in 1879, when the Lake Brothers founded a Christian retreat on the island, the Ocean City Association handled official business, which continued in this capacity until 1884. [2] Based on a referendum on April 30, 1884, the borough of Ocean City was formed from portions of Upper Township, following an act of the New Jersey Legislature on May 3, 1884. [3] At this time, the town was governed by a mayor and four members of a City Council. [2] On March 31, 1890, the borough of Ocean City was reincorporated. On March 25, 1897, Ocean City was again reincorporated, this time as a city. [3] At this time, the City Council expanded to six members. In 1911, Ocean City switched to a city commission government, in which voters picked three commissioners, with one designated as mayor. [2] On July 1, 1978, Ocean City switched to a mayor–council form of government, in which there are seven council members, and a directly-elected mayor. [4]

Mayors

No.MayorTerm startTerm endNotesReferences
1Gainer P. Moore18841890First mayor of borough of Ocean City [5]
2James E. Pryor18901892 [5]
3Gainer P. Moore18921894Second tenure as mayor [5]
4Harry G. Steelman18941895Tied with Robert Fisher in the 1894 mayoral election. The City Council chose Steelman, which Fisher contested in court. [5] [6]
5Robert Fisher18951896Tied with Harry G. Steelman in the 1894 mayoral election. After contesting in court, the City Council instated Fisher for the 2nd year of the two-year term. [5] [6]
6Gainer P. Moore18961897Third and final tenure as mayor [5]
7Wesley C. Smith18971901First mayor after Ocean City incorporated as a city [7]
8Joseph G. Champion19011907First of three tenures as mayor. [6]
9Lewis M. Cresse19071911 [7] [2]
10Harry Headley19111915City government changed to a three-person commission, which chose Headley. [6] [8]
11Joseph G. Champion19151931Second of three tenures as mayor. [6] [9] [10]
12Harry Headley19311935Second tenure as mayor. [6]
13Joseph G. Champion19351939Third and final tenure as mayor. [6]
14George D. Richards1939May 17, 1943Died on the last day of his term. [6] [11]
15Clyde William Struble, Sr.May 1943December 3, 1948Delegate to 1947 state constitution convention. He died in office on December 3, 1948. [12] [13] [14] [2]
VacantDecember 3, 1948May 10, 1949City commission was unable to agree on replacement. Position was vacant until the next mayoral election on May 10, 1949. [2]
16Edward B. Bowker19491959 [15] [2]
17Nathaniel C. Smith19591963 [2]
18B. Thomas Waldman19631967 [6]
19Robert L. Sharp19671971 [2]
20B. Thomas Waldman19711978 [6]
21Chester A. Wimberg19781982First person elected under the newly adopted mayor–council form of city government [7] [2]
22Jack Bittner19821986 [2]
23Roy Gillian19861990 [16]
24Nickolas J. "Chick" Trofa1990January 31, 1992He died of a heart attack while in office on January 31, 1992. [6]
25Richard DeaneyJanuary 31, 1992May 12, 1992Appointed by City Council until a special election on May 12 [6]
26Henry "Bud" KnightMay 12, 19922006He won a special election in 1992, then served three more terms. [6] [16] [17]
27Sal PerilloJuly 2006July 2010 [16]
28Jay GillianJuly 2010Current mayor of Ocean City [16]

Higher offices held

The following is a list of higher public offices held by mayors, before or after their mayoral term(s).

MayorMayoral term(s)Other offices heldReferences
Wesley C. Smith1897–1901 New Jersey General Assembly (1895) [18]
Lewis M. Cresse1907–1911New Jersey General Assembly (1901-1903) [19]
New Jersey Senate (1904-1906) [19]
Joseph G. Champion1915-1931 Cape May County Board of Freeholders (1922) [2]
Nathaniel Smith1959-1963New Jersey Senate (1954-1955) [20]
Jack Bittner1982-1986Cape May County Board of Freeholders [2]
Roy Gillian1986-1990Cape May County Board of Freeholders (1971) [21]

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References

  1. ↑ Bill Barlow (May 10, 2022). "Gillian re-elected mayor in Ocean City". Press of Atlantic City. Retrieved May 11, 2022.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 Fred Miller (July 2010). "Mayors of OC". Ocean City Magazine: 55–57.
  3. 1 2 John P. Snyder (1969). The Story of New Jersey's Civil Boundaries: 1606-1968 (PDF) (Report). New Jersey Geological Survey. p. 115. Retrieved February 2, 2018.
  4. ↑ "City Council". City of Ocean City. Retrieved February 2, 2018.
  5. 1 2 3 4 5 6 The History of Cape May County, New Jersey: From the Aboriginal Times to the Present Day. Cape May, New Jersey: Star of the Cape Publishing Co. 1897. p. 477.
  6. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 Fred Miller; Susan Miller (2011). Legendary Locals of Ocean City. Legendary Locals. ISBN   978-1-4671-0004-5.
  7. 1 2 3 Fred Miller (2003). Ocean City: America's Greatest Family Resort. Arcadia Publishing. p. 83. ISBN   0-7385-2447-6.
  8. ↑ "Ocean City Mayor and Member of Board Held Over $250,000 Note". New York Times . September 21, 1933. Retrieved 2018-01-23.
  9. ↑ "Ex-Mayor of Ocean City, N.J., Sees Plot in Auto Sale Inquiry". New York Times . September 7, 1931. Retrieved 2018-01-23.
  10. ↑ "Taxpayer Gets Warrant for J. G. Champion of Ocean City, Charging Irregularities". New York Times . September 6, 1931. Retrieved 2018-01-23.
  11. ↑ "Ocean City $1,113 Short. Warrant Is Issued for Brother of Woman Official". New York Times . August 18, 1942. Retrieved 2018-01-23.
  12. ↑ William Starr Myers, ed. (2000). Prominent Families of New Jersey. Vol. 1. Genealogical Publishing Company. p. 171. ISBN   9780806350363.
  13. ↑ State of New Jersey Constitution Convention Biography of Delegates (PDF) (Report). New Jersey State Library. 1947.
  14. ↑ N.J. Constitutional Convention. 1947. p. 979.
  15. ↑ "Mayors of Ocean City, New Jersey". Political Graveyard . Retrieved 2018-01-23.
  16. 1 2 3 4 "Optimism rolls in on new OC bridge". The Gazette of Ocean City. May 29, 2012. Retrieved September 14, 2017.
  17. ↑ "Former Ocean City mayor Henry 'Bud' Knight dies". 8 March 2015.
  18. ↑ Thomas F. Fitzgerald (1905). Manual of the State of New Jersey (PDF). J.L. Murphy Publishing Co. p. 203.
  19. 1 2 Lawrence Kestenbaum. "Crellin to Crochett". The Political Graveyard. Retrieved February 2, 2018.
  20. ↑ Lawrence Kestenbaum. "Smith, K to N". The Political Graveyard. Retrieved February 2, 2018.
  21. ↑ Fred Miller (2006). Ocean City 1950-1980. Arcadia Publishing. p. 91. ISBN   0-7385-4536-8.
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