TOMS RIVER, NJ – A rift in the Toms River Democrat party was evident today after former Toms River Council Democrat endorsed a write-in candidate instead of the party-endorsed candidates.
Turnbach, who unsuccessfully ran for chairman of the Ocean County Democrat party in 2022, endorsed an independent write-in candidate for Toms River. Dana Tromollan is running as a write-in candidate for council along with Paul Williams.
The endorsement by Turnbach highlights the rift in the Democrat party split by moderates such as Ocean County Democrat Chairman Wyatt Earp and radical progressives like mayoral candidate Ben Giovine and his council candidates that cover all of the progressive checkboxes needed for a full campaign slate.
Tromollan is a member of the Toms River Education Foundation, a charity run by Turnbach.
Turnbach’s endorsement comes as a slight to Ben Giovine, who is running against Republican Dan Rodrick.
“Dana is someone who demonstrates her genuine care and love for her community through her actions. She is someone who is refreshingly not owned by party bosses or party politics,” Turnbach said. “She has been a constant presence at Township Council meetings for years and years. She has been a strong voice against the overdevelopment of our community and specifically against the ten story apartment developments downtown. Dana Tormollan is really the ideal candidate for Township Council, someone who is running because she loves her town and can absolutely make a positive difference for all of us.”
Earlier this week, Turnbach, who is a criminal defense lawyer made headlines after he claimed a 70-year-old man who was assaulted and killed while riding his bike in Seaside Heights, had it coming to him. Turnbach, victim-shaming the deceased man in court, said his client, a much younger and stronger man, was only defending himself for calling his client the “n-word’.
“Nobody deserves to be called [the n-word],” Turnbach argued for his client.