TOMS RIVER, N.J. — The death of the party line in New Jersey has lead to the political death rattle of a once powerful Republican powerbroker in Ocean County.
Ocean County Republican Chairman George R. Gilmore has been left with just one single candidate running under his official endorsement in one of New Jersey’s largest Republican primaries, marking a rare moment of political isolation for the longtime party powerbroker in his home county’s official seat of power.
Two battling factions in Toms River, those aligned with former Mayor Maurice Hill and those aligned with current Mayor Dan Rodrick have both declined the endorsement of the embattled Ocean County Republican GOP Chairman.
In Toms River, Ocean County’s seat and largest municipality, nine GOP candidates are vying for four Township Council seats in the June 10 primary.
Only one of them are officially backed by Gilmore, as the other eight have told the meddling chairman, “Thanks, but no thanks.”
Gilmore, whose height of power peaked shortly before he was convicted for failing to pay the IRS withheld payroll taxes from his lawfirm Gilmore and Monahan, and for lying on a mortgage application. He was sentenced by the Department of Justice to one year and one day in federal prison.
On January 20th, 2021, Gilmore received a pardon from President Trump on his last day in office during his first term.
Gilmore’s lack of influence in the Toms River election shows the weakness not only of his waning influence in most parts of the county, but the impact of removing party lines in New Jersey elections.
Previously, candidates would line up before the chairman on their knees with their heads down for the county line endorsement. To be blessed by Gilmore would almost guarantee an election victory in the past.
The game has changed. The party lines have been abolished and money and on the ground campaigning is the key to winning elections.
That pits Rodrick, a master at political campaigning and an burgeoning expert in the art of uniting Republican donors for financial support against Gilmore who has a party line that’s worth about as much as an old, used pair of socks.
Gilmore’s influence used to reign supreme with his ability to ‘sell’ the party line to donors. Donors would line up to make donations to Gilmore’s candidates in return for lucrative professional contracts when his candidates won.
Before being stripped of his license to practice law, he used to rake in around $2,000,000 annually from public contract work in the towns he reigned over.
Now, even the county’s top donors are dealing directly with local Republican clubs and candidates, circumventing Gilmore’s former position as the powerbroker middle man.
Gilmore’s downfall began with his conviction and sentencing. He was forced to resign as chairman and his lawfirm went under.
He lost influence in towns like Jackson, Lakewood, and Brick, where local Republicans edged him out of the process slowly and began raising their own campaign donations, free of Gilmore’s meddling and influence.
In Toms River, Gilmore reacted by challenging the official Republican party’s decision candidate selection and now has just one lone candidate in the race, Anthony Ricotta, pitted between the new political powerbase under Mayor Dan Rodrick and the former “Mo Hill Gang”, struggling to keep seats on the council in June.
The rift between Gilmore and Rodrick has escalated into a full-blown party civil war, rooted in Rodrick’s rejection of Gilmore’s picks for key council seats and a flat out rejection by Rodrick of Gilmore’s political influence in town hall.
The Toms River Regular Republican Club, influenced by Rodrick, chose not to endorse in one ward and overruled Gilmore’s push to back Anthony Ricotta in another.
“Due to Chairman Gilmore’s persistent habit of getting overly involved in local party affairs, he insisted on endorsing Mr. Ricotta, but none of the other council candidates or I were comfortable with Mr. Ricotta,” Rodrick was quoted in an article in the Asbury Park Press today.
Gilmore, who has faced criticism for allegedly meddling in municipal races and for past federal convictions before being pardoned by Donald Trump, defended his position, citing background issues with Rodrick’s candidates and accusing the mayor of operating with a “slash-and-burn” political style.
Gilmore has also fallen out of favor and trust with Republicans on a state level. He used to be a statewide kingmaker. Today, he is seen by many as a man in decline, desperate to build back the empire he once ruled. However, in his absence, state GOP leaders learned that they can get by in life without Gilmore’s help, avoiding his eventual favors, asked in return.
Key points
- George Gilmore, Ocean County GOP chairman, has one candidate running in Toms River’s crowded Republican primary.
- Mayor Dan Rodrick’s influence dominates the race, with all major candidates backed by him or unaffiliated with Gilmore.
- The political rift underscores a growing power struggle within the Ocean County Republican Party’s largest municipality.
Toms River’s political battlefield
The stakes are high: Rodrick allies already hold four of the seven council seats. A clean sweep in June would give him full control of the governing body heading into November, leaving only Councilman Thomas Nivison as a potential opponent and completely erasing the Mo Hill era from the township’s government roster.
Gilmore’s absence from the primary slate is particularly notable given his long-standing grip on the Ocean County GOP. It signals a significant shift in local party dynamics — one in which his influence is being challenged not by Democrats, but by Republicans from within.
Making matters worse for the chairman, neither side is likely to align with Gilmore in June, as neither side has any real incentive to get involved with the chairman, who once tried to dodge his federal charges by telling the judge he suffers from mental illness.
Gilmore admitted in court that he has a hoarding disorder, which led to his erratic behavior as both a small business owner and county chairman.
Internal strife isn’t limited to endorsements.
Rodrick and Gilmore have publicly clashed over homelessness policy, local development, and control of the Toms River Municipal Utilities Authority.
Rodrick appears intent on completely eliminating Gilmore’s influence in all forms of township government, saying the aging chairman is out of touch with modern voters.
It’s for the better for Toms River. Gilmore was the leader of the so-called “Good Old Boys Network” that once ruled the county with an iron fist.
The GOP primary has become a flashpoint for their feud, with Rodrick branding Gilmore as aligned with special interests and out of touch with municipal issues and out of touch with the Republican party in general.
Gilmore has come under fire for playing both sides of the political aisle for personal gain. Although he is the chairman of New Jersey’s most dominant Republican county, prior to his conviction, he was a partner in a lobbying firm with New Jersey Democrat Party Chairman Leroy Jones, 1868 Public Affairs. Jones ditched Gilmore after his conviction.
He also hosted a political fundraiser for former New Jersey Democrat Governor James McGreevey in Bayville this year. McGreevey, an openly gay man resigned from office after it was learned he had sex with another man at a New Jersey rest stop.
Gilmore has also met several times in secrecy with Monmouth County Democrat Vin Gopal and New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy.
Now, Gilmore works as a consultant for another Democrat lobbying firm owned by Phil Norcross, the brother of South Jersey Democrat powerbroker George Norcross.