LAKEWOOD, NJ – A report published by Lakewood Alerts, a Lakewood-based Orthodox Jewish online news website yesterday reported that the Toms River Jewish Community Council is “highly unlikely” to endorse Toms River Republican Dan Rodrick for mayor in November.
The article was published shortly after the party endorsement of Ben Giovine, a Democrat for Mayor on Friday.
Democrats are hoping the council that wields influence with Jewish voters in the community will push votes toward ultra-liberal, radical Democrat candidate Ben Giovine.
Giovine has already publicly discussed his success hinging on winning over the Jewish voters and Republicans who voted for current Mayor Maurice Hill in the June primary election.
“It is as of yet unclear whether the Toms River Jewish Community Council (TRJCC) will throw its support behind Giovine or sit out the election, as it is highly unlikely they will endorse Rodrick,” the Lakewood based news website reported.
Rodrick is confident he will win in November, saying Ben Giovine, a deep-state D.C. progressive Democrat who works for radical progressive Democrat Congressman Andy Kim’s radical agenda is too far left, even for Toms River Democrats.
“Ben is part of the radical far-left Democrats who want to take away your gas cars, your gas stoves, and your gas grills,” Rodrick said. “They even want to take away the meat you cook on them and make us eat meatless meat.”
Rodrick said the Lakewood Alerts article calling him anti-Semitic is off base and meant to turn a valid complaint about overdevelopment in Toms River into a religious issue so the Democrats can capitalize on it in November.
“As the leader of the Toms River Democrat Party, Ben Giovine supported downtown apartment towers, high-density housing, and, 1 acre zoning for houses of worship. The only two Democrats on the council were voted out of office because of it,” Rodrick said. “As a school board member, Giovine raised our taxes every year he was on the board. I’m confident Ben Giovine will unite not only Republicans but everyone in Toms River against his radical liberal agenda, including moderate Democrats.”
The Toms River Jewish Community Council is in a tough spot. On one hand, they have previously branded Rodrick as anti-Semitic and endorsed losing candidate Geri Ambrosio in the June primary election. On the other hand, can they look their constituents in the eye and ask them to vote for a liberal Democrat whose principles are against their conservative faith and values?
The election poses a difficult decision for Jewish leaders, but promises by Giovine to the community could flip voters to make an exception and vote for him based on what he can deliver to the community.
The TRJCC has not endorsed either candidate at this point.
Giovine also claimed that he has support of Republicans in Toms River, but on Wednesday, hundreds of Republican leaders from both sides of the political divide came out to support Rodrick at a meet and greet at Villa Malfi on Route 166.
“The idea that the Republican party in Toms River is split is a myth,” Rodrick said. “And if there was a split there won’t be after learning that far-left radical Democrat Ben Giovine wants to be the next mayor of Toms River.”