TOMS RIVER, NJ – Toms River residents united on Tuesday night across party lines to elect Republican Councilman Dan Rodrick as its next mayor. Rodrick defeated Democrat Ben Giovine, a top staffer to Congressman Andy Kim, by a 70-30% margin.
Rodrick ran on a platform to stop overdevelopment and fix the problems plaguing Toms River Township’s future.
Giovine did not win a single district in the election that saw some districts turn out as high as 80% in favor of Rodrick.
After the election, Rodrick thanked his supporters and voters in Toms River, vowing that he will continue to fight against overdevelopment and present new plans to overcome some of the township is problems.
“These results are a mandate that the residents of Toms River do not want our town to become a city,” he said. “We all moved to Toms River to get away from the cities. Nobody wants our town to turn into a city.”
Giovine’s campaign focused on calling Rodrick an “anti-semite” for opposing overdevelopment with support for Rodrick unanimous in every district in the town.
Rodrick said he and his time, Tom Nivison, Lynn O’Toole, and Craig Coleman, will get to work for the residents in Toms River on day one. They will replace Mayor Maurice “Mo” Hill and Councilmen Kevin Geoghegan, Josh Kopp, and Matt Lotano.