TOMS RIVER, NJ – Toms River Democrats are pushing for an executive at a Lakewood headquarters bank, to challenge Toms River Councilman Dan Rodrick for mayor. Rodrick, who defeated his opponents in a landslide in June, said he was unphased by the confusion within the Democrat party.
“I will run against, and win against whoever the Democrats eventually choose to run against me,” Rodrick said today.
Initially, Democrats endorsed former township committeeman John Furey to run for mayor, but Furey dropped out of the race last week.
On Monday, a report from the Lakewood-based news service Lakewood Alerts announced that the Democrat party had endorsed Lakewood bank executive John Crisafulli.
Insiders say the Democrats see Crisafulli as their answer to Rodrick. Crisafulli has extremely close personal and business ties to the growing Orthodox Jewish community in Toms River and Rockland County.
His bank, First Commerce Bank, funds major commercial and residential development projects in Lakewood, Jackson, and Toms River.
“John Crisafulli, A Strong Friend Of Orthodox Jews, Planning Run For Toms River Mayor,” the headline stated on Lakewood Alerts on Monday.
“Crisafulli is a well-connected businessman with deep ties to Lakewood, including with numerous askanim (Orthodox Jewish residents), and has a long history of friendship with Orthodox Jews. He has been in attendance at numerous Orthodox Jewish functions, such as a Hachnosas Sefer Torah, and is very friendly with many in the Ocean County power structure,” the report continued.
Crisafuli today said he had been courted by the Democrats and many Orthodox Jewish power players in Lakewood, Jackson, Toms River, and beyond. Still, it said he has not yet made a decision.
“I was asked to consider running for Mayor of Toms River. It’s not a decision I have made yet. A formal response will come forward soon,” he told Shore News Network.
Adding Crisafuli to the race could turn the mayor’s race in Toms River into a political and cultural battle between Orthodox residents and non-Orthodox residents, blurring the lines between Democrat and Republican voters completely.
In June, Rodrick won his election overwhelmingly on an anti-overdevelopment platform. That platform angered many in the Orthodox community, who labeled Rodrick as against their community.
The community united behind Rodrick’s opponent, Geri Ambrosio. The Orthodox community would be expected to rally behind Crisafuli in solidarity in November if he accepts the nomination.
According to a news release published by First Commerce Bank, Crisafulli has over 20 years of experience in many banking positions, including 15 years in management, and was promoted this year to vice president and senior business development officer.
“He is an active member of the Lakewood Chamber of Commerce, Monmouth Regional Chamber of Commerce, Princeton Mercer Regional Chamber of Commerce, New Jersey Jewish Business Alliance, Rockland Business-2-Business Network, and handles Business Development for the Orthodox Jewish Chamber of Commerce, an internationally recognized Chamber of Commerce,” the company stated. “Crisafulli also serves as a board member of the Strand Center for the Arts, Lakewood; Community Affairs Resource Center, Asbury Park (since 2022); and the Burlington Mercer Chamber of Commerce (since 2019). He served as a board member of the Fanwood-Scotch Plains Rotary Club as president, the Union Rotary Club; the Girls Scouts of the Jersey Shore; and was District Chairman for the Joshua Huddy District of The Boy Scouts of America Jersey Shore Council. He was honored as a Hometown Hero at the 2018 Ocean County Awards Gala.”
