TOMS RIVER, NJ – In a sweeping 59-page verified complaint filed in New Jersey Superior Court, Toms River Mayor Dan Rodrick alleges a coordinated, politically motivated campaign by public officials and consultants tied to Monmouth and Ocean County power structures to destroy his teaching career and silence his reform agenda.
Filed this week, the lawsuit identifies a clear and politically orchestrated attack plan against the mayor after he fired a Monmouth County political operative and canceled a contract with a local EMS provider over allegations of fuel theft and contract breaches.
“This is about protecting the integrity of public service,” Rodrick said. “When insiders realized they couldn’t buy me off or intimidate me, they tried to end my career. They will not succeed.”
The lawsuit, lodged in the Law Division of Monmouth County, names an array of defendants including the Middletown Township Public School District, its Board of Education, senior school officials, and several politically connected figures and firms.
At the center of the complaint is the claim that these individuals—motivated by retaliation and political revenge—used their authority and influence to fabricate charges, leak confidential personnel records, and circulate defamatory information in an attempt to end Rodrick’s 23-year teaching career.
Rodrick was later forced out of his job, but now, he’s providing evidence in court that he says shows it was done for political payback.
Alleged retaliation after reform moves
According to court filings, the alleged retaliation began after Rodrick, newly elected as Toms River’s mayor in January 2024, moved to dismantle what he described as entrenched systems of patronage and political favoritism.
He terminated several publicly funded contracts, among them a consulting agreement with Art Gallagher, a well-known Republican political operative, blogger, and owner of Gallco, a political marketing firm that owned MoreMonmouthMusings.Net, who had longstanding ties to Monmouth County politics and former Toms River Mayor Maurice “Mo” Hill.
Rodrick’s decision to eliminate Gallagher’s role as a taxpayer-funded “Confidential Aide” reportedly set off a chain reaction. The lawsuit alleges that Gallagher, together with Middletown Board of Education President Frank Capone and Vice President Jacqueline Tobacco, launched a campaign of personal and professional retaliation.
Gallagher, while serving as Public Information Officer for Toms River, was paid $20,000 by Capone and Tobacco for political consulting during their election campaign. He earned $120,000 plus medical benefits while employed in Toms River.
The trio, along with Kevin Geoghegan, a former Toms River council president, retired Toms River police officer, head of the Silverton EMS for-proft medical service, and political ally of figures aligned with ex-mayor Maurice “Mo” Hill, allegedly coordinated efforts to discredit Rodrick within his teaching position at Thorne Middle School in Middletown.
Complaint outlines systematic harassment
The verified complaint filed by attorney Donald F. Burke of Brick Township describes an escalating pattern of harassment. Beginning in late 2023, Rodrick was allegedly reassigned to teach subjects outside his certification area, an action the suit says was calculated to “engineer professional failure,” after a stellar career with the district.
He was later accused of misconduct and placed under investigation based on what the lawsuit describes as falsified disciplinary memos and manipulated spreadsheets which he says were created by Gallagher to justify the filing of tenure charges. Those charges, filed in December 2024, led to Rodrick’s suspension despite what his complaint notes were consecutive “highly effective” evaluations over the previous five years.
The complaint alleges that confidential personnel records, including the false tenure charges, were unlawfully released to political operatives and later posted online through media outlets linked to Gallagher.
One article cited in the complaint falsely accused Rodrick of indecent conduct—an accusation his attorney says was “fabricated and maliciously disseminated.”
Political network named in complaint
The lawsuit paints a detailed picture of a politically interconnected network spanning multiple layers of local government and party infrastructure. At its center, Rodrick names:
- Frank Capone, current president of the Middletown Township Board of Education and former councilman with ties to Monmouth County GOP operations;
- Jacqueline Tobacco, vice president of the same board and former Republican candidate for public office;
- Art Gallagher, owner of MoreMonmouthMusings.net and political consulting firm Gallco Media, known for his work with Republican campaigns and public relations in Monmouth County;
- Kevin Geoghegan, former Toms River council president and longtime political figure with ties to local business and development interests.
Rodrick alleges these individuals acted in concert with other unnamed officials (listed in the filing as “John Does 1–10”) to carry out a retaliatory campaign designed to “end his employment, destroy his credibility, and dissuade others from exposing corruption.”
Coordinated online attacks
The complaint specifically identifies Gallco Media and Gallagher’s political blog as vehicles used to circulate defamatory material. It accuses Gallagher of knowingly publishing false claims about Rodrick’s professional conduct while simultaneously assisting school board members in crafting documentation for disciplinary action.
In one cited incident, spreadsheets allegedly manipulated by Gallagher were used by district administrators to justify charges against Rodrick for classroom mismanagement—claims that, according to internal records, were unsubstantiated.
The lawsuit states that these online publications were part of a “broader disinformation effort,” coordinated with politically aligned school officials, to erode public trust in Rodrick’s integrity as both a teacher and elected official.
Legal grounds and claims
Attorney Burke’s filing outlines four major legal counts:
- Count One: A violation of the Open Public Records Act (OPRA) for the district’s alleged refusal to release documents requested by Rodrick related to the tenure charges and communications between board members and political consultants.
- Count Two: A common law right of access claim seeking to compel the district to produce public records kept secret in violation of transparency statutes.
- Count Three: A violation of the Conscientious Employee Protection Act (CEPA), which protects employees from retaliation when they report or oppose unlawful activity. Rodrick argues that his tenure charges were directly tied to his whistleblowing efforts against misuse of public resources.
- Count Four: Alleged violations of the New Jersey Constitution and New Jersey Civil Rights Act, asserting that the defendants infringed upon his rights to due process, equal protection, and freedom of speech.
Burke said the case “represents a clear abuse of public authority” and warned that “no teacher, public employee, or citizen should face coordinated punishment for speaking out against government misconduct.”
History of political reform efforts
Rodrick’s political career has been defined by confrontation with established local power structures. As a councilman and later as mayor, he pushed to eliminate publicly funded consulting contracts, cancel what he described as “sweetheart land deals,” and file lawsuits targeting organizations accused of financial mismanagement.
Among his more notable actions were moves to block the sale of public land at below-market value, dissolve politically connected patronage roles, and replace municipal insurance brokers—changes he said saved taxpayers millions. It was a plan that the former Mayor and Gallagher previously openly supported through official township channels.
The complaint links these reform efforts directly to his subsequent targeting by political figures with overlapping interests in both Toms River and Middletown.
Retaliation timeline
Rodrick’s verified complaint presents a detailed timeline of events, beginning with his swearing-in as mayor in January 2024. Within weeks, the suit says, backlash from entrenched political interests emerged as Gallagher’s dismissal from a Toms River position sparked internal communications among Capone, Tobacco, and Geoghegan about “taking Rodrick down.”
By mid-2024, Rodrick’s classroom assignments were altered, and by fall, disciplinary memos were placed in his personnel file. In December 2024, the board filed tenure charges seeking his termination.
Shortly thereafter, social media accounts linked to Archangel Strategies published posts accusing Rodrick of professional misconduct. The same month, Rodrick and his wife allegedly began receiving threats and were followed near their Toms River home—a pattern of conduct the lawsuit calls “stalking and surveillance under the guise of political opposition.”
Broader implications for whistleblowers
Rodrick’s complaint will test the limits of New Jersey’s whistleblower protections in politically charged environments. CEPA, the state’s Conscientious Employee Protection Act, has long served as a shield for public employees who expose corruption, but few cases have alleged retaliation spanning multiple institutions and involving political operatives.
Burke argues that the complaint “illustrates how political machinery can infiltrate public education systems to exact punishment on dissenters.”
The lawsuit also exposes the blurred boundaries between politics and public employment in local government—a longstanding issue in New Jersey, where crossover between political appointments and professional posts is common.
Reaction from local circles
Neither Capone, Tobacco, nor Gallagher have issued public statements in response to the lawsuit. The Middletown Township Board of Education has declined to comment, citing ongoing litigation.
Rodrick, meanwhile, has continues to serve as Toms River mayor and has described the lawsuit as “a necessary act of accountability.”
He said the filing was not just about personal vindication but about “protecting the right of public employees to challenge corruption without fear.”
Context on key defendants
- Art Gallagher has been a fixture in Monmouth County Republican politics for decades, running both political campaigns and the website MoreMonmouthMusings.net, which publishes commentary and local political news. His firm, Gallco Media, has provided communications consulting to candidates and public entities. He also held a public position with Toms River and now serves as a lobbyist for a politically connected professional firm.
- Frank Capone, a former township councilman, has held leadership positions in Middletown’s Board of Education and remains active in regional political fundraising.
- Jacqueline Tobacco has run for political office and served as an administrator within the Middletown school system, frequently partnering with Capone on board initiatives.
- Kevin Geoghegan, a past Toms River council president, is known for his ties to local development and campaign fundraising networks across Ocean County. He also has a close relationship with Monmouth County Sheriff Shawn Golden, who was also implicated in the political plot.
Each of these defendants, according to Rodrick’s lawsuit, “used public positions and political connections to coordinate actions designed to undermine his livelihood.”
Burke’s filing requests not only monetary damages and attorney’s fees but also declaratory judgments requiring the defendants to cease any further retaliatory action. The suit also seeks orders compelling compliance with OPRA requests for communications between school district officials and political consultants.
Toms River and Middletown, both suburban strongholds with complex political histories, have long been arenas for intraparty battles and patronage disputes. Rodrick, originally aligned with the local Republican establishment, broke ranks in recent years as he pursued an aggressive anti-corruption platform, which stirred the political hornets nests in both counties.
His push to audit municipal contracts, replace politically connected vendors, and scrutinize land-use approvals drew praise from taxpayer advocates but ire from party loyalists.
The lawsuit situates those conflicts within a larger framework of retaliation that extends beyond municipal lines into the public education system—where Rodrick’s dual role as mayor and teacher made him a high-profile target.
If successful, the case could set precedents for the application of whistleblower protections to politically entangled school districts and municipal governments. It could also clarify whether public officials can face individual liability for alleged conspiracy and defamation connected to employment actions.
Rodrick vows to continue reforms
In a statement released after the filing, Rodrick said the lawsuit represents “the next step in standing up for taxpayers and ethical government.” He added that the alleged retaliation only strengthened his resolve to continue reform efforts in Toms River.
“This is about protecting the integrity of public service,” Rodrick said. “When insiders realized they couldn’t buy me off or intimidate me, they tried to end my career. They will not succeed.”
Burke echoed that sentiment, saying his client “will not be silenced by those who misuse power.”
Key Points
- Toms River Mayor Dan Rodrick filed a 59-page lawsuit alleging coordinated retaliation by Middletown school officials and political consultants.
- Defendants include Board of Education President Frank Capone, Vice President Jacqueline Tobacco, consultant Art Gallagher, Archangel Strategies, and former council president Kevin Geoghegan.
- The complaint cites fabricated tenure charges, leaked personnel files, and defamation tied to political retaliation.
- Rodrick’s attorney calls the case a landmark challenge to the abuse of public institutions for political revenge.