After receiving no direction how to vote from local community askanim, the voters of Toms River today spoke all on their very own.
Loud and clear.
In support of curbing continued over-development, which leads to increased taxes.
Toms River voters came out today strongly in support of Daniel Rodrick, bringing him to victory as Republican nominee for mayor.
With 46/63 districts reporting, Rodrick is crushing the race for Republican nominee for mayor. Rodrick ran on a platform curbing over-development.
A total of 7,414 votes have been tallied; Rodrick has received 3,560 or 48.02%, Geri Ambrosio is far away with 1,779 votes or 24%, Mo Hill received 1,692 votes or 22.82%. Robert Bianchini is in final place at 371 votes or 5%.
This is an important victory as the municipality is largely republican and therefore, tonight's winner will most likely be victorious by a landslide in the general election.
Two years ago, the Toms River Jewish Community Council (TRJCC) strongly supported Mo Hill, against Daniel Rodrick who ran on a platform curbing over-development. Community leaders believed at the time that Hill would be more welcoming to Jewish infrastructure.
Hill ended up winning by less than a mere 250 votes.
Since then, the TRJCC lost faith in Hill, saying that his willingness to go "from talk to actual" left much to be desired.
On May 3, Mayor Hill announced that the TRJCC has endorsed Geri Ambrosio, the former Ocean County Tax Board Commissioner.
TRJCC leaders have been pressuring members of the Orthodox Jewish community to cast their ballots for Ambrosio in WhatsApp groups with copies of the primary ballot with all of the Column A Republican candidates except Hill highlighted in yellow, stated Hill. Ambrosio’s name is the sole candidate in Column B highlighted in the WhatsApp posts.
"My opponents, including Ms. Ambrosio, have been using the growth of the Orthodox Jewish community to divide Toms River for years. These candidates have been exploiting our fears and frustrations in a cynical and dishonest attempt to win elections. If they succeed, the disastrous result would be the loss of control of our building code and zoning laws, either to the United States Department of Justice (DOJ) or to the agenda of the special interests.
“Throughout my first term as mayor I have endeavored to treat all Toms River residents equally and to address any concerns and requests within the boundaries of the law and the best interests of the entire town. As we got closer to the election the demands of certain TRJCC leaders have gotten increasingly aggressive and unreasonable. There have been demands to amend our zoning that attempt to circumvent environmental protections under the Coastal Area Facility Review Act (CAFRA).
“Additionally, there have been unreasonable demands made by TRJCC leadership regarding building permits and code violations. Finally, TRJCC leaders have threatened the jobs of Township employees who did not cede to their demands and have asked that those employees be terminated.
“I don’t know what Ms. Ambrosio and her allies have promised to get the TRJCC endorsement. I do know what I will not do to get it,” Hill concluded.
However, TRJCC reps confirmed to the Asbury Park Press that they had not made any endorsement in the mayoral race, and were only endorsing the other Column A candidates.
Councilman Daniel Rodrick ran on his own platform, in support of curbing over-development which leads to increased taxes.
“Taxes are out of control, and high-density, multi-family development continues to reshape our town. As homes are converted into houses of worship, quiet residential neighborhoods are being transformed into busy commercial streets,” Rodrick said. “These changes are having a disastrous impact on taxes, traffic, quality of life, and our schools.”
“I’ve been fighting for our town for the last five years. Since being elected to Town Council in 2017, I have voted against every new development, including Mayor Hill’s plan to build two 10-story apartment buildings downtown. I was the only member of the council who had the courage to vote against cutting the acreage requirement for houses of worship, and I have voted against every tax increase since being elected. Mayor Hill is destroying Toms River,” he added.
Today on the primary Election Day, Toms River residents spoke loud and clear in support of this platform.
This "voice" follows the lead of Manchester Township voters as well.
As previously reported here on FAA News, earlier this year, voters chose the anti over-development slate.
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1 comment:
The TRJCC made it clear, and clearly endorsed a candidate. This is their way of backing out of their devastating loss.
Rodrick and his screaming of overdevelopment is nothing but hype. There is very little new development going on in town. But he just says what needs to be said to win votes.
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