Rodrick says toms river council censured him in an act of political reprisal
Rodrick campaign mailer published by the Asbury Park Press.

Rodrick Says Toms River Council Censured Him in an Act of Political Reprisal

by
December 8, 2019
·

TOMS RIVER-Toms River Councilman Daniel Rodrick who engaged in a heated political campaign against Toms River Councilman Maurice “Mo” Hill and former Ocean County Prosecutor Joseph Coronato said on Tuesday that his campaign mailers were not anti-semitic, but anti-overdevelopment.  Rodrick said that when the township council censured him for a mailer that detailed a then-secret political relationship between his opponent Hill and Scott Gartner, an Orthodox Jewish man who threatened to sue to the township over zoning restrictions for houses of worship, it was nothing more than political retribution.

Rodrick said the censure resolution by the council was intended solely to harm his credibility as a politician and to threaten his job as a middle school teacher.  Rodrick claimed that during the council’s private executive session, the township attorney and the other council members did not acknowledge past anti-semitic mailers sent out by the campaigns of Mayor Thomas Kelaher and other councilmembers.

 

Rodrick says toms river council censured him in an act of political reprisalHe also said the township’s in-house lawyer also had a score to settle with Rodrick who seeks to abolish the current legal services agreement in favor of outsourcing legal expenses.

“The council was advised to take this action by our in-house legal services team, the very same legal services team that I campaigned against in favor of outsourcing as a cost-saving measure that can save the taxpayers over one million dollars annually,” Rodrick said.

Rodrick said when the council was presented with the resolution for his censuring, he advised the council and the attorney of other mailers sent by members of the governing body that went far beyond Rodrick’s mailers which detailed a political alliance between Hill, Gartner and Rise Up Ocean County.

Rodrick says toms river council censured him in an act of political reprisal
Rodrick campaign mailer published by the asbury park press is the center of the debate between councilman daniel rodrick and the township of toms river after rodrick was censured for the mailing the postcard during his campaign in june.

“During the primary, Mo Hill even sought and received the endorsement of Rise Up Ocean County,” Rodrick said. “A group labeled by the Board of Chosen Freeholders and the Attorney General as anti-Semitic.”

“The fact that nobody else has been censured or asked to resign demonstrates that the intention of the censure was not to protect the town but to damage my reputation,” Rodrick said.

Rodrick said he recently met with Scott Gartner to discuss their differences and said that his stance remains anti-overdevelopment and not anti-Orthodox.

“Mr. Gartner was not happy about his political lobbying efforts being featured in a mailer,” Rodrick said. “My goal was to ensure Scott that my position on zoning relates to the curbing of excessive growth and not faith.”

 

 

Phil Stilton
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.

  1. Jackson 21 Was Marketed as ‘A Great Place for Really Nice People.’ Now It’s Facing Religious Gender Segregation Claims
  2. PJM’s Wind and Solar Couldn’t Keep Up When Americans Needed it Most in July
  3. New Jersey Town Where ICE Agent Was Run Down Passes Resolution Urging Repeal of Sanctuary State Policies
  4. New Jersey Dem Lawmakers Move to Expand Assault Rifle Ban As Court Rules Existing Law Unconstitutional