TOMS RIVER, NJ – The month of May has not been a good one for Toms River Mayor Maurice Hill. Hill is not only facing a possible election loss in two weeks, but he also lost a three-year fight against the state of New Jersey for a pension he did not qualify for.
Now, Hill has been kicked off the South Jersey Transportation Authority Board of Commissioners. The commission did not say why Hill was removed.
Hill said his position on the board improved conditions on state roads in the North Dover section of Toms River.
“I enjoyed my service 11 years of service on the SJTA,” said Hill, “I am especially pleased that my service led to improved public safety in Toms River. I was able to work with NJDOT Commissioner Diane Gutierrez-Scacetti to increase the time interval of the left turn signals on both Whitesville Rd. and Rt. 70 and Massachusetts Ave. and Rt. 70 intersections. That has resulted in a 75% reduction of traffic accidents with no fatalities.”
In March, a girl was critically injured at the still ‘problematic‘ intersection.
Hill received that appointment through a referral by then Ocean County GOP Chairman George Gilmore. Gilmore recommended Hill for the position after Hill was rejected by the Ocean County GOP for not being nominated for Congress in 2014. Instead, Gilmore and the GOP chose businessman Tom MacArthur. MacArthur ended up winning the election and serving as a congressman from 2015-2019.
“It was his consolation prize for not getting the congressional nod,” Gilmore said.
Now, Hill is facing an uphill battle to keep his seat as Mayor in Toms River. Hill has told multiple individuals that should he lose the election, he plans on selling his home and leaving Toms River, according to sources in Toms River who wished not to be identified.
Art Gallager, spokesman for Hill and Hill’s political campaign manager, did not immediately yrespond to the claim that he has a plan B to flee Toms River in the event that he does not win the June primary election.
Replacing Hill on the commission will be S. Zoe Baldwin, 41, a resident of Neptune Township who serves as the Director of the Regional Plan Association.