Toms River, NJ – In a milestone moment for Ocean County, Shmuel “Sam” Ellenbogen was sworn in this week as the county’s first Orthodox Jewish commissioner, marking a significant step for representation within the region’s growing Orthodox community.
Ellenbogen, a longtime leader in the Toms River Jewish Community Council and commissioner of the Toms River Municipal Utilities Authority (MUA), took his oath of office on January 2 at the Ocean County Administration Building. The ceremony was administered by Assignment Judge Francis R. Hodgson Jr. of the Ocean County Superior Court.
Ellenbogen, who ran unopposed in the Republican primary alongside Ray Gormley, replaces outgoing commissioners John P. Kelly and Virginia Haines, both of whom chose not to seek re-election. Gormley, a former Little Egg Harbor Township Committeeman, also took the oath of office, sworn in by Assemblyman Brian Rumpf. He now serves as the sole commissioner representing southern Ocean County.
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For Ellenbogen, the moment capped a rapid ascent from community advocacy to countywide office. He continues to serve on the Ocean County Utilities Authority and remains a commissioner with the Toms River MUA—an agency that recently faced scrutiny when Mayor Dan Rodrick sought to dissolve it, citing duplicate services and benefits for commissioners. Despite the controversy, the MUA remained intact, and Ellenbogen retained his seat and healthcare benefits.
As one of the most visible figures in Toms River’s Orthodox Jewish community, Ellenbogen’s election is being hailed as a landmark event symbolizing broader civic inclusion in Ocean County government.