TOMS RIVER, NJ – Toms River Township Councilman Dan Rodrick and his team drew first blood in the 2021 Republican Primary Election that pits “Team Rodrick” versus “Team Mo Hill” in June.
Rodrick is running his campaign under the “Save Toms River” slogan, akin to former President Trump’s “Save America PAC”. Running with the incumbent is Justin Lamb, a 20 year police sergeant in Ocean County, Grace Piscopo, who says she’s a Corporate Executive Manager, a scout leader for 12 years and PTO volunteer for 8 years.
They are joined with some age, in the form of John Loiacono, a U.S. Marine Corps veteran, CV Commander of the American Legion and he serves on the Toms River veterans commission.
In their mailer, which is the first salvo of an expectedly brutal two month battle between the forces aligned with Toms River Mayor Mo Hill and those aligned with the rest of the residents of Toms River, Rodrick rails Hill for the path he has chosen for Toms River during his first two years in office.
“Stop Lakewood-Style Development,” the mailer reads. “No more special deals for Lakewood developers.”
Rodrick also criticized Hill’s plethora of new patronage hires, including a $500,000 per year lawyer who also holds dozens of other public jobs throughout Ocean County, Greg McGuckin.
“No more giveaways to friends and special interests,” Rodrick’s mailer states. “Say no to Mo and his new political allies.
Two years ago, Mo Hill withdrew himself from the Official Toms River Republican Party. After failing to take the club over by force, in January, Hill formed a new political club backed by McGuckin and his new allies in Toms River politics. Hill’s team has been endorsed by the Toms River Jewish Community Council (TRJCC) also known as the “Toms River VAAD”.
VAAD members, according to an OPRA request have signed the candidate endorsement for Hill’s candidates. ‘
Rodrick also noted that he opposed Hill’s effort to build a 1,000 apartment city starter project in Downtown Toms River and recently opposed Hill’s push to change the township’s 10 acre religious zoning requirement to just two acres.
Hill’s team consists of a township planning board and zoning board member, which Rodrick blames share the bulk of the responsibility of overdevelopment after approving hundreds of high-density apartments, townhomes, and subdivisions in the community over the past few years.