TOMS RIVER, NJ – Toms River Township Daniel Rodrick today announced he is going to run against Mo Hill to try to unseat the unpopular mayor in June’s GOP primary election. Hill, who has come under fire in recent years for rampant overdevelopment in Toms River, a plan to turn Downtown Toms River into a city, and for a recent tax re-evaluation that raised taxes on thousands of senior citizens has also announced he is running for re-election.
In 2021, Rodrick, a Republican, won his bid for re-election 69% to 30% over Democrat Jeff Horn. In that year’s GOP primary election, Rodrick easily defeated Hill-backed candidate Jason Crispin 58% to 41%.
Now, Rodrick is challenging Mo Hill for the mayor’s seat. In a recent telephone poll Hill’s favorability in Toms River Township was roughly 25%, with many Republicans declaring they would instead vote for a Democrat in November if Hill wins the GOP nomination in June.
Rodrick this week said Toms River is in ‘big trouble’.
“Taxes are out of control, and high-density, multi-family development continues to reshape our town. As homes are converted into houses of worship, quiet residential neighborhoods are being transformed into busy commercial streets,” Rodrick said. “These changes are having a disastrous impact on taxes, traffic, quality of life, and our schools.”
He added that he wants to stop the plan to develop the Ciba Geigy superfund site and would use eminent domain to protect the entire site from all future development.
Rodrick said that while walking through the community, most residents in town are concerned about is future as the last remaining open spaces are being turned into high-density housing units, and the once-quiet downtown village is slated to become a small city, anchored by two ten-story apartment towers championed by Mayor Mo Hill.
He says his track record of defending the township and fighting overdevelopment is proven.
“I’ve been fighting for our town for the last five years. Since being elected to Town Council in 2017, I have voted against every new development, including Mayor Hill’s plan to build two 10-story apartment buildings downtown. I was the only member of the council who had the courage to vote against cutting the acreage requirement for houses of worship, and I have voted against every tax increase since being elected.” he said. “Mayor Hill is destroying Toms River.”
Rodrick also announced his running mates for his “Save Toms River” team that includes the owner of Toms River’s last remaining workable farm and descendent of a Revolutionary warfighter, John Nivison, who fought alongside Joshua Huddy in the battle of the Toms River in 1782.
Nivison owns Silverton Farms. While other farms in New Jersey were sold to developers, Nivon preserved his family farm which has become a popular destination in the town for many. Nivson said he understands the importance of preserving Toms River’s open space.
In 1782, his fifth great-grandfather fought as the British burned the village of Toms River. Now, Nivison says Toms River’s downtown should remain a village and its character should not be destroyed again.
He openly opposes Hill’s plan to turn the historic village and county seat into a congested city with ten-story apartment buildings.
Lynn O’Toole, the President of Holiday City Silverton, who is also running with Rodrick said she and her neighbors have also suffered under the administration of Mo Hill. During last year’s property tax re-evaluation, many seniors in town saw their property taxes jump as much as 50% while other newer-built neighborhoods saw tax decreases.
“Ms. O’Toole is a retired entrepreneur who studied business at Berkeley College.
Lynn is deeply concerned about increasing property taxes and the impact the tax reval is having
on her fellow senior citizens. Ms. O’Toole is also troubled by the fiscal mismanagement of our
town and she wants to cut out the wasteful spending,” Rodrick said today.
Rodrick announced his third running mate as Craig Coleman, a retired superintendent of schools and principal that spent 40 years in education.
For 20 of those years, Craig was the principal of the Ocean County Vocational School. He also serves on the board of Preferred Behavioral Health and was the past chairman.
“Mr. Coleman is disturbed by the out of control construction, particularly the multifamily housing that is eroding our tax base,” Rodrick said. “Craig is also concerned about the rising cost of courtesy busing to private schools and the impact it is having on our public schools.”
Rodrick said his proven track record of opposing Lakewood native Mo Hill’s urban development plan, tax and spend policies, and radical agenda is the reason why Republican voters should make it a point to come out and vote during the June primary election.