Councilman Tony Polcini watches as City Clerk Melissa Rasner draws plastic eggs from a basket held by her assistant, Nicole Driscoll.
Only in Ocean City could purple Easter eggs play such an important part in an election.
Everyone watched quietly – and with anticipation – as City Clerk Melissa Rasner opened the plastic eggs one by one on Friday to reveal the names of each candidate and where they will appear on the election ballot.
Rasner took a whimsical approach toward selecting the ballot positions to make it fun for the candidates in what might have otherwise been an oh-so-serious or tense election process.
She explained that by randomly picking eggs from a basket, it was a fair way of determining ballot positions for the May 12 election for mayor and three at-large City Council seats.
In the mayor’s race, Mayor Jay Gillian is facing opponents Pete Madden and Keith Hartzell, both of whom currently serve on City Council.
When Rasner opened the eggs, Madden’s name was drawn first, giving him the coveted top position on the ballot for the mayoral candidates. Madden wasn’t at the drawing, but was represented by his campaign manager, Midge Grunstra.
Hartzell’s name was drawn second, followed by Gillian getting the third and final position on the ballot for the mayor’s race.
“She always liked me better than you,” Hartzell jokingly told Gillian after his name was drawn by Rasner ahead of the mayor’s.
Mayor Jay Gillian, center, and Councilman Keith Hartzell, watch the drawing unfold.Gillian, who has been mayor since 2010, is seeking his fifth, four-year term. Hartzell, who represents the Second Ward on Council, ran against Gillian in the 2022 mayoral election and lost by 395 votes. Madden, who currently serves as Council’s vice president, is running for mayor for the first time.
In the City Council race, incumbents Sean Barnes and Tony Polcini and newcomers Jocelyn Palaganas and Jim Kelly will vie for the three open at-large seats.
When Rasner opened the eggs for the Council candidates, Palaganas’ name was drawn first, giving her the top position on the ballot for the Council race.
“Ladies first, right? Rasner said in a good-natured observation of Palaganas getting the top spot.
Kelly’s name was called second, followed by Barnes and then Polcini to determine the remaining ballot positions.
“Good luck, everybody. Congratulations,” Gillian told all of the candidates when the drawing wrapped up.
Sharing a light moment during the drawing are, from left, Council candidate Jim Kelly, Councilman Sean Barnes, Midge Grunstra, campaign manager for mayoral candidate Pete Madden, and Council candidate Jocelyn Palaganas.Following are the mayoral and City Council candidates, their campaign slogans and the order in which they will appear on the ballot.
MAYOR’S RACE:
Pete Madden, “Leadership Ocean City Deserves”
Keith Hartzell, “Make Ocean City Even Better”
Jay Gillian, “Proven Leadership for a Stronger Tomorrow”
CITY COUNCIL RACE:
Jocelyn Palaganas, “Bringing People Together”
Jim Kelly, “A New Voice for Ocean City”
Sean Barnes, “Preserving Our Shore Way of Life”
Tony Polcini, “Continuing to Keep Families First”
City Clerk Melissa Rasner holds a copy of the ballot after the drawing.
