Eastern Shore Undercover's First Endorsement of 2026: Jeff Heiser for Town of Ocean City Council

Ocean City, MD - We had originally planned to roll out our endorsements through a podcast series. After talking with a significant number of people in our community, we decided that well-written articles would serve you better.

Each endorsement will get its own breakdown, so you understand exactly why we believe a candidate is the right choice.

Before we get into our first endorsement, we want to be clear about something important. Just because we endorse someone does not mean you have to agree with us. You are under no obligation to vote for any candidate we support. Our job is to share our perspective, and your vote is entirely your own.

I feel that our reputation and credibility speaks for itself and there is a reason why we have become one of the leading news outlets on the Eastern Shore in just under 6 years in business.

That said, our track record for endorsements comes with something we are very proud of.

Since we launched Eastern Shore Undercover in 2020, we have made 12 endorsements and supported one ballot initiative. Every single endorsed candidate won and the ballot initiative went exactly as we hoped. That is a 100% success rate, and we do not take that lightly.

That record is exactly why we are careful and deliberate with every decision we make come election time. We do not rush endorsements. We do not endorse just to endorse. Our credibility is on the line every single time, and we treat it that way.

We wanted our first endorsement of the 2026 election cycle to clearly set the bar very high. We are confident this one does exactly that!

About a month ago, we received a phone call from the individual we are endorsing today. He shared that several community members had already been encouraging him to run for Ocean City Council.

At the time, Mr. Tony DeLuca had just stepped down, leaving an open seat on the council. Since then, Mr. Larry Yates also stepped down due to medical reasons, creating a second open seat.

Ocean City needs the right people in those seats, now more than ever, with a challenging summer season right around the corner. The Town of Ocean City needs stability and proven leadership, which is why we have picked this individual.

Our first and top endorsement for the 2026 election cycle is Mr. Jeff Heiser for the Town of Ocean City Council.

I have known Jeff Heiser personally since 2003. When he told me he was considering running, it was the easiest endorsement decision I have ever made in the history of running this news outlet. No hesitation. None whatsoever!

He made it even easier during one of our conversations. When asked about the role, Heiser told me that in his opinion, this would be a straightforward and very easy job because he just has to do what the citizens of Ocean City want. That one statement sealed it for me completely.

Too many council members forget who they actually work for and who puts them in those seats. Jeff Heiser understands that his role is to be the voice of the people, and that mindset is exactly what Ocean City needs right now.

What I respect most about Jeff is that he is not a yes man. I worked alongside him at the Ocean City Police Department, and his approach was always the same. If you were right, he would tell you that you were right. If you were wrong, he had no problem telling you that either. He is honest, straightforward, and consistent, and that is what I respect about him.

That same character will carry over to the council chamber. Jeff Heiser is not going to be pushed into a vote, if he thinks it is not what is best for citizens in Ocean City. He is going to think it through, weigh what is best for the citizens, the businesses, and the tourists that make Ocean City what it is.

Heiser was a police officer for 27 years! He ended his long tenured career as a lieutenant with the Ocean City Police Department.

Since retiring from the OCPD, Heiser has continued to serve this community. He is now an instructor at the Eastern Shore Criminal Justice Academy, where he trains and shapes the next generation of law enforcement officers on the Delmarva.

This is not a man looking for a title. This is a man built for public service.

We would not place our first endorsement of the year on anyone we were not fully confident in. We have zero reservations putting the Eastern Shore Undercover name behind Jeff Heiser. 

We believe he is the best candidate for this council seat, and we encourage you to learn more about him as this election cycle moves forward by visiting his website.