In toms river, rodrick's defeated opponents pledge support

TOMS RIVER, NJ – In a surprising moment Wednesday night at Toms River town hall, Toms River Mayor Maurice “Mo” Hill and former mayoral candidate Geri Ambrosio each publicly conceded their defeat to Dan Rodrick and pledge to support the Republican nominee for mayor in November.

“I want to thank the residents who came out to vote in the primary; I think it was a record for the turnout,” Mayor Hill said. “Congratulations to Dan and his council running mates. They won an overwhelming victory, and I want to assure you there will be a smooth transition.”

Hill said there should be no confrontations and promised a smooth transfer of power when Rodrick defeats Democrat John Furey in November.

“You’re not going to have my cooperation, zero,” said Councilman David Ciccozzi.

Geri Ambrosio lambasted the council and saying they forgot who

“The people have spoken,” she said. “And they have spoken overwhelmingly. You would have to be living under a rock to know how loud that was.”

Ambrosio pledged her support for Rodrick but cautioned she may not agree with him on some things, she believes his intentions for Toms River are good and called upon the council also to pledge their support.

“You have to do what you can to get this town moving in the right direction,” She added. “What you need to do is put your own self aside and congratulate the person who worked very hard to win and won with overwhelming support from our community.”

Councilman Justin Lamb, who publicly backed Ambrosio during his campaign, echoed the call to support Rodrick.

Lamb thanked Hill for his service to the community but said the council and mayor pushed policies that were not popular with the people of Toms River.

“I’m optimistic you will be a uniter,” Lamb said to Rodrick. “We share a mutual vision of this township’s future.”

Lamb also slammed the outgoing council for their treatment of Rodrick since taking office four years ago.

Rodrick thanked the residents of Toms River and his team, who worked hard to win the primary election and promised to continue working for the people of Toms River.

He also gave a stern warning to splinter Republican groups who might consider supporting Democrats over political sour grapes during the election.

“We are willing to accept the help and support of any individual from either club,” Rodrick said. “But any Republican who helps the Democrats, we will know. They will not be welcomed back into the fold after the election.”

Councilman Josh Kopp and Councilman Kevin Geoghegan, who both lost on Tuesday night declined to comment. Councilman Matt Lotano also refused to acknowledge Rodrick’s victory. Lotano lost on Tuesday.

Councilman Quinlisk said Mayor Mo Hill had done a great job and has done nothing but good for the township, but said he looked forward to working with Rodrick and his team.

Phil Stilton Latest posts

Phil Stilton is the Editor and Publisher of Shore News Network, an independent digital newsroom providing original reporting on New Jersey, national news, government, public policy, public safety, courts, and community affairs.

As founder of the publication, Stilton leads editorial strategy, investigative reporting, and daily newsroom operations while overseeing coverage that reaches millions of readers annually.

With extensive experience covering municipal government, county government, state legislatures, elections, law enforcement, emergency management, and public records, Stilton specializes in translating complex government actions into clear, factual reporting. His work frequently relies on primary source documents, including court filings, legislation, public meeting records, election finance disclosures, government databases, police reports, and Freedom of Information and Open Public Records Act (OPRA) requests. He has reported extensively on local government accountability, taxpayer spending, campaign finance, public corruption investigations, infrastructure, public safety, and the policies affecting New Jersey residents.

Under Stilton's editorial leadership, Shore News Network has grown into one of New Jersey's largest independent digital news organizations, publishing thousands of original news articles each year while providing breaking news coverage, investigative reporting, and analysis across state and local government. The publication's reporting is routinely sourced from official government agencies, public officials, court records, and firsthand documentation, with a commitment to transparency, attribution, corrections when warranted, and clearly distinguishing factual reporting from opinion.

Stilton's journalism follows established newsroom standards emphasizing accuracy, verification, fairness, and accountability. Every effort is made to verify information through official records and multiple reliable sources before publication. His reporting is intended to provide readers with timely, well-documented information that helps them understand the issues affecting their communities, while maintaining editorial independence from political parties, government agencies, advocacy organizations, and commercial interests.

Readers can submit story tips, corrections, public records, or media inquiries through the official Shore News Network website or its verified social media channels. Shore News Network welcomes corrections and updates when new information becomes available as part of its ongoing commitment to accurate and transparent journalism.