TOMS RIVER, NJ – Two slates of candidates are seeking to unseat embattled Toms River Mayor Maurice “Mo” Hill in June’s GOP primary election.
The first challenger is Toms River Republican Councilman Daniel Rodrick, who is known as an anti-overdevelopment public official who is not afraid to go head-to-head against economic and political forces seeking to reshape and rebuild the town of Toms River.
Rodrick, whose brand of politics conflicts with Toms River Mayor Mo Hill’s policies, is coming off decisive wins in the 2021 council primary election and a general election where he defeated his opponents nearly three to one.
Now, Rodrick says it’s time for Mo Hill to go.
“Toms River is in big trouble under the leadership of Mo Hill,” Rodrick said, referencing the Mayor’s plan to turn the town into a busy city. Rodrick opposed much of Mayor Hill’s agenda since Hill was elected more than three years ago.
He is joined by Tom Nivison, Lynn O’Toole, and Craig Coleman.
Considered a ‘spoiler ticket’ by many under the direction of Ocean County GOP Chairman George Gilmore and his allies, in an effort to take votes from Rodrick, is the former president of the de-listed Toms River GOP, Geri Ambrosio, a municipal tax assessor, and Real Estate agent.
Last month, Ocean County GOP Chairman George Gilmore unsuccessfully tried to reinstate the decertified club in order to give Ambrosio the party line in the primary. GOP voters defeated that vote, and now Ambrosio and her team are running an off-line challenge against Hill, despite most of her ticket, including herself being current employees of the Hill administration.
Ambrosio was recently given a public patronage job valued at over six figures annually by Berkeley Township Mayor Carmen Amato, a close ally of Chairman Gilmore.
Her running mates include former Mo Hill administration attorney R. Garry Mundy, the widow of former Toms River Mayor Roden Lightbody, Norvella “Pug” Lightbody. Pug works for the nearly bankrupt Toms River Parking Authority. They are joined by Sergio Fossa, a Wall Township’s Grace Bible Church pastor.
Then, there’s Mo Hill and his team. Hill, whose favorability rating in Toms River is low due to his quest to turn Toms River into a bustling city and for his catering to special interest groups, has a long road ahead of him. He nearly lost his initial election campaign to a progressive Democrat in 2019 but was able to squeak by with the support of the growing Orthodox Jewish community’s support that year.
With those numbers increasing and the spoiler ticket run by Gilmore, Mo Hill’s team is hoping for a low turnout during June’s primary election as his path to victory.
Hill is joined by downtown commercial real estate developer Matt Lotano, Kevin Geoghegan operator of a township-funded for-profit medical transport company, and Josh Kopp, a solar energy business director.
Running as a lone wolf for mayor is Robert Bianchini. Bianchini, a zoning board member appointed by the Mo Hill team, also works as Asbury Park projects director and engineer. Bianchini is employed by the Asbury Park Public Works Department.