TOMS RIVER, N.J. — The Mo Hill Team for Toms River, led by Councilmen James Quinlisk and David Ciccozzi, has officially launched their re-election campaign for the Toms River Township Council, signaling a fierce Republican primary battle set for June 10, 2025.
Joined by runningmates Robert Bianchini and Clinton Bradley, the team is rallying supporters to reclaim control of the council and push forward with plans for a controversial 10-story downtown apartment complex, a project championed by former Mayor Maurice “Mo” Hill Jr.
The team came out in a united front last week to support New Jersey GOP candidate for Governor Jack Ciattarelli, who has been courting the support of Toms River’s former mayor and his fringe mostly exiled unofficial Republican group.
Quinlisk and Ciccozzi, staunch allies of Hill, are vocal supporters of the proposed twin-tower development during Hill’s tenure.
When Mayor Dan Rodrick canceled the project, both Quinlisk and Ciccozzi were both vocal in their defiance to the mayor’s plan to nix the former 10-story twin towers.
The project, spearheaded by developer Capodagli Property Company, promised to transform downtown Toms River into a vibrant urban hub but faced significant opposition from residents and current Mayor Daniel Rodrick, who campaigned on halting overdevelopment.
Hill’s team gained just over 20% of the vote in the 2023 Toms River GOP primary election with the majority of residents opposed to the former Mayor’s dream of turning downtown Toms River into a thriving and bustling city.
Now, Hill has allied candidates running in hopes of overturning Rodrick’s actions against the project.
If elected, the Hill Team could secure enough votes to override Rodrick’s efforts to block the project, potentially reviving the high-rise plan and veto the mayor’s dissent.
The candidates made a public show of unity last week at the grand opening of Jack Ciattarelli’s Ocean County campaign headquarters, joined by Hill and downtown developer Matt Lotano, a key figure in Toms River’s redevelopment efforts.
Ciattarelli, a likely frontrunner in the 2025 New Jersey gubernatorial race, did not comment on the local race but appeared to lend tacit support to the Hill faction, energizing their base in a town marked by deep GOP divisions.
“This election is about the future of Toms River,” Quinlisk said, emphasizing his commitment to “smart growth” and economic revitalization. Ciccozzi echoed this sentiment, defending the apartment complex as a necessary step to modernize the downtown area while adhering to state mandates for affordable housing.
The team was joined by Toms River MUA Commissioner Phil Brilliant, who was appointed by Hill’s team to the board. Brilliant has been the leader of an anti-Rodrick movement which has failed to gain steam beyond a few former employees and close allies of Hill.
Brilliant’s position on the MUA commission hangs by a thread as his appointment expires next year. He needs the council’s 4-3 majority vote to keep his part-time job with health benefits with the authority.
However, the project remains mired in controversy. Mayor Rodrick and his administration are currently engaged in a lawsuit with Capodagli, who is seeking judicial relief to proceed with the development after the township rejected the plan.
Rodrick has accused Hill’s allies of prioritizing developers’ interests over residents, pointing to tax incentives and land deals granted under the previous administration.
“Trenton didn’t give property away for $1. They didn’t give a developer a payment in lieu of taxes plan. You did,” Rodrick said, addressing Ciccozzi’s tenure on the Planning Board.
The Hill Team’s opponents, including incumbents Justin Lamb and William Byrne, are backed by Rodrick and the Toms River Regular Republican Club.
They argue that the downtown towers would strain infrastructure and alter the township’s character, a message that resonated with voters when Rodrick unseated Hill in the 2023 GOP primary.
The primary will pit two visions for Toms River against each other: the Hill Team’s push for urban redevelopment versus Rodrick’s focus on curbing growth and reducing government spending. With the township’s Republican base fractured, the June 10 election is shaping up as a referendum on the downtown apartment complex and the legacy of Mo Hill’s administration.