TOMS RIVER, NJ – Toms River Mayor Maurice “Mo” Hill and the Toms River Council, minus one council-member approved a nearly half-million-dollar legal contract for New Jersey Assemblyman Gregory P. McGuckin last month. Since that hiring, McGuckin, how holds an estimated three-dozen public legal contracts across Ocean County was once again a no-show in Toms River as he instead attended a meeting in Jackson Township where he also serves as legal counsel.
When asked how he could be in two places at one time, McGuckin said last month, “It’s none of your business.”
Now, the head of the Toms River Township legal department has missed his first two scheduled public meetings of the township council.
McGuckin, who donated to the political campaign of Maurice Hill, Matt Lotano, Josh Kopp and Kevin Geoghegan was rewarded for his political patronage via a full-time job appointment with the township.
McGuckin also pushed his weight around with mayors in Jackson, Lacey and Manchester to increase his personal wealth this year and is now being accused by Toms River Councilman Daniel Rodrick of extortion and political corruption. Rodrick said he will soon be filing official charges against the township council regarding McGuckin’s possibly illegal hiring that violates that town’s pay to play ordinances.