Union County Mayor Sued, Accused Of Retaliation By Former City Employee: Lawsuit

ELIZABETH, NJ — A former employee of the City of Elizabeth said he was forced out of his role after he reported work on a public official's home that was done without proper clearance.

In a lawsuit he filed on Dec. 31, Eduardo (Ed) J. Rodriguez sued the City and Mayor J. Christian Bollwage, alleging that he was the victim of retaliation.

Rodriguez served as the Director of Planning and Community Development in the City for 10 years before his time came to a close in December 2024. On Jan. 13, he will be sworn in to the state's Assembly after his victory in the 20th District in November 2025.

After continuous renewals of his contract, Rodriguez said, his employment ended in late 2024 suddenly following a decade of carrying out his duties "competently and professionally and was never advised that his performance was deficient," the suit says.

The news of his dismissal came after he told Bollwage about a "prominent public official" who was had a construction project done on his property without the required plans or permits. The suit states that Rodriguez was made aware of this by an employee within the Construction Bureau.

Rodriguez provided Bollwage with photographic evidence and described the situation after it "raised concerns regarding selective enforcement and municipal exposure."

It was just days after he reported this, the suit says, that he learned with no ample notice, warning, or opportunity to respond that his job would be gone. The official, who Rodriguez reported for not having proper clearance on his home project, has not been named.

He claims the act was clearly retaliatory, based on his standing as the only leader of a city department who was let go ahead of the next term.

Rodriguez, based on "information and belief," said no review into his report of the construction work on the official's home was done prior to his contract not being renewed.

In an exit memo shared by city spokesperson Ruby Contreras, Rodriguez wrote to Bollwage on his last day of work how much he "appreciated the job and the freedom...to pursue different ideas and initiatives across a wide range of departments."

Contreras attributed Rodriguez's note as clearly of "good-faith," but denied any further comment from the mayor or the City.

"Thank you again. It truly has been an honor and privilege serving in part of your 32-year administration," Rodriguez said in conclusion.

Bollwage voiced his support for Union County Commissioner Sergio Granados (D) in the run for Assembly against Rodriguez (D), before Granados fell in the June 10 primary.

Bollwage was elected as mayor in 1992. He won his ninth four-year term as mayor in 2024, and is the longest-serving leader in the City's history.

He also serves on the board of the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey.

Rodriguez and his legal team are seeking a judgment by jury trial, compensatory damages, consequential damages, punitive damages, reinstatement of employment, interest, attorneys' fees and costs, and any other relief that the Court renders in his favor.

Patch has reached out to Rodriguez for comment on the contents of his memo to the mayor.

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