My name is Bill Byrne, and I am a candidate for the Toms River Council. My campaign is driven by a commitment to work alongside Mayor Rodrick in our community’s shared fight against overdevelopment, corruption, and wasteful spending—a concern that deeply resonates with the residents of Toms River.
Overdevelopment is a critical issue threatening our quality of life and the character of our community. In the eight years prior to Mayor Rodrick’s election, nearly 3,000 units of housing were approved in North Dover, significantly transforming our community.
This development spree did not consider the long-term impacts on taxes, the schools, traffic, or our infrastructure. Following this, the administration of Mo Hill shifted its focus towards downtown Toms River, envisioning a cityscape dominated by high-rise apartments.
This radical shift towards urbanization was not in line with the desires of our residents, who were happy with the suburban character of our community.
Mayor Rodrick has taken bold steps to counteract these plans, demonstrating his commitment to preserving our town’s character. He has taken action against the developers by putting Capidaglia, the developer of the towers project in default and canceling the redevelopment agreement, which offered a 30-year property tax exemption and gave valuable waterfront property away for nothing. When Mayor Rodrick put a stop to that deal, he demonstrated his dedication to the fight against overdevelopment and his respect for the voices of our residents.
As we continue this fight, I fully support Mayor Rodrick’s repeal of the downtown Redevelopment Plan, that allowed for the construction of apartments buildings up to 150 feet tall. Such developments would permanently alter the landscape and essence of Toms River, something our community stands firmly against.
Our new mayor stabilized taxes, too. Rodrick and his council team passed a 2024 budget with no municipal tax increase. He did so by cutting waste and eliminating millions in unnecessary positions. Residents in my senior communities, like the one I live in, have really felt the squeeze of inflation and higher property taxes, and we are happy with what Mayor Rodrick is doing.
It has come to my attention that, if elected, my opponent, Zach Dougherty, plans to align with the remnants of the Mo Hill team, aiming to undermine the progress and positive changes Mayor Rodrick and the current council have made. Zach Dougherty told the patch that if elected, they would render our new mayor a lame duck.
This potential collaboration threatens to reverse the significant strides the new administration has made in preserving the integrity and character of our community.
The residents of Toms River have clearly voiced their support for Mayor Rodrick’s initiatives. Like them, I stand with the mayor in our shared goal to protect and enhance the quality of life in Toms River.
This commitment to our town and its future generations is the cornerstone of my candidacy. As the election approaches, I urge our residents to consider the importance of electing council members dedicated to fighting overdevelopment, corruption, and wasteful spending. With your support, we can ensure Toms River remains a community we are all proud to call home. Thank you for considering my stance and the future of Toms River.
Signed,
William Byrne – Toms River
Candidate for Council 2024
