Battle Over 1-Year Council Seat Focuses On Toms River's Future

TOMS RIVER, NJ — On Tuesday, the future of Toms River rides on the number 20,174.

That's the number of registered voters in Council Ward 2 who could potentially cast votes in theof election to fill the one-year unexpired term of the seat formerly held by Mayor Dan Rodrick.

It's not known for sure how many of those 20,174 voters will go to the polls, or how many will take the time to cast a ballot for either Zach Dougherty or William Byrne, but the outcome of the race will have a significant impact on what happens in 2025 in Toms River.

Byrne, 82, who is running as a Republican, had been a registered Democrat until just days before his candidate's petition, which was circulated by Rodrick, was filed listing him as a Republican.

Rodrick has labeled anyone who opposes him as "part of the Mo Hill gang," a reference to former mayor Maurice Hill, who lost to Rodrick in the 2023 Republican mayoral primary. There were 10,350 votes cast in that primary across Toms River, and 19,886 votes cast in the general election in November 2023, when Rodrick defeated Democrat Ben Giovine to become mayor.

In putting Byrne up as the candidate to fill his seat, Rodrick said he was seeking someone to continue to help him fulfill his vision for Toms River.

Dougherty entered the race in response to turmoil in the township over a range of moves by Rodrick that started with the elimination of two captains' positions in the police department in February and the transfer of operations of the township's animal shelter to Ocean County. Both of those changes were met with petitions to recall the ordinances; in both cases, Rodrick sidestepped the recalls and forged ahead with his policies.

Dougherty highlighted those changes along with the shutdown of the Silverton EMS, a move Rodrick made alleging there were "financial irregularities" that were "potentially criminal." No charges have been filed by county, state or federal law enforcement. Kevin Geoghegan, president of Silverton EMS, publicly invited law enforcement to examine the squad's financial records.

Dougherty has called the moves "decisions that have undermined public safety and the well-being of our community. Cutting emergency services isn’t just irresponsible; it’s playing politics with people’s lives," he said.

His entry into the race has come as some of Rodrick's support has faltered. Councilman Tom Nivison, who ran with Rodrick on the main issue of the downtown redevelopment plan, has begun to speak out against Rodrick on some issues. Nivison opposed the move to shift the animal shelter operations to the Ocean County Health Department, and he has gotten into shouting matches repeatedly with Rodrick since the move to stop Toms River's operation of the shelter.

That schism reached a boiling point at the last Township Council meeting, where Nivison called other council members "puppets" and Rodrick called Nivison a "sellout" and "con man" when Nivison asked to table a proposed ordinance to repeal the downtown redevelopment plan, so he could have more time to review it.

Nivison had endorsed Dougherty just before the council meeting, a sign that if Dougherty is elected to the Ward 2 seat, Rodrick will not have a solid majority on the council. Dougherty would likely vote with Councilmen Jim Quinlisk and David Ciccozzi, who have opposed Rodrick's most controversial moves, and the escalating vitriol between Nivison and Rodrick hints that he will oppose Rodrick as well on some matters.

That would leave Rodrick with Councilman Justin Lamb, Council President Craig Coleman and Council Vice President Lynn O'Toole supporting Rodrick.

The campaign has featured multiple mailers from Rodrick on behalf of Byrne attacking Dougherty.

One mailer mocked Dougherty for living at home and claimed he is unemployed; he works as a paid administrative staff assistant for the League of Women Voters of New Jersey and is working on a master's degree. Others have highlighted photos of Dougherty posing with other Democrats, photos taken during an internship or during special events.

Letters on behalf of Byrne in recent weeks have attacked Dougherty and those who have endorsed him, including former police chief Mitch Little.

In a letter to Ward 2 residents in October — Little's first public statement since his Aug. 23 retirement — Little endorsed Dougherty, saying Dougherty would stand up for the community and for Toms River's law enforcement.

A letter signed by O'Toole and distributed to Ward 2 voters and beyond in response accused Little of covering up an alleged sexual assault that happened after a Toms River Police Foundation function.

Hill said the matter was referred to the Ocean County Prosecutor's Office immediately, but the woman declined to move forward with charges. A tort claim was filed, but no lawsuit has resulted.

Letters signed by Byrne repeated the lie that Dougherty is unemployed; his employment is listed on the League of Women Voters of New Jersey website. The letters blast Dougherty as a "far left liberal" but fail to note that Byrne was a Democrat until just days before his nominating petition was submitted in March.

The letters from Byrne focus on the downtown redevelopment plan that is slated to be repealed at the Nov. 13 council meeting.

Rodrick has not provided contact information for Byrne, and insisted he would be the person to submit Byrne's candidate profile to Patch. Patch declined; the profiles are expected to come directly from the candidates themselves.