Toms River Township Council Ward 3 Election: Jim Quinlisk

TOMS RIVER, NJ — Patch is publishing profiles of local candidates in the 2025 election, set for Tuesday, Nov. 4.

In Toms River, voters will be casting ballots in four wards for seats on the Township Council. The council seats are four-year terms.

In Ward 1, Republican Robert Bianchini is facing Democrat Anthony Colucci. In Ward 2, Republican Clinton Bradley is facing Democrat Susan Payne Gato. In Ward 3, Republican Harry Aber is alone on the ballot as there is no Democratic nominee. Republican Jim Quinlisk, the incumbent, is running a write-in campaign. In Ward 4, Republican David Ciccozzi is facing Democrat Justin Moran. Democrat Paul C. Williams is running a write-in campaign.

The candidates were sent the same set of questions in mid-October. Here are the answers from Jim Quinlisk.

Name: James “Jim” Quinlisk

Age: 59

Family: My wonderful wife, Terry, and I are lifelong residents of Toms River. We have happily called Toms River home, raising our daughter here and caring for our family.

Education: Rider College (University), Studied Marketing and Education. Vice President of IFC. Toms River Fire Academy, Toms River High School East

Occupation: I am honored to serve as the Councilman representing Ward 3. I previously served as Fire Commissioner for Toms River and am a volunteer firefighter.

I run a family-owned small business based in Toms River, dedicated to helping people with disabilities and mobility issues maintain their independence. We provide comprehensive home access solutions, including the sale, installation, and servicing of home elevators, wheelchair lifts, stairlifts, and modular wheelchair ramps.

As your Councilman, business owner, and past Commissioner, I possess the knowledge and experience to ensure that fiscally responsible and long-term planning are the keys to a successful future for our town.

Overdevelopment has been the hot button discussion for years. In August, the Fair Share Housing Center filed an objection to Toms River’s announced plan to meet affordable housing numbers for the fourth round. How do you suggest Toms River respond?

North Dover is undergoing a rapid transformation into a small city, with land being cleared by the tens of acres. We are experiencing increased apartment developments, and Mayor Rodrick has proposed additional projects in Ward 3 to compensate for the unsuccessful affordable housing litigation. The Rodrick administration has not implemented effective measures to curb overdevelopment along the Route 9 corridor. Our community is increasingly burdened by significant traffic congestion, strained public services, and deteriorating infrastructure. To address these challenges, I will collaborate with the County and State authorities to expand protected open spaces and advocate for a reduction in mandated affordable housing targets, thereby preventing unnecessary and potentially detrimental overbuilding. Furthermore, I will focus on enhancing our community by upgrading local parks and youth sports facilities, making our environment more enjoyable and accessible for all residents.

The absence of strong code enforcement created by the Rodrick Administration incentivizes illegal overdevelopment and poses a serious threat to the safety and character of our community. Without effective code enforcement, unsafe rental properties, illegal multi-family units, and deteriorating homes become common, driving down property values and diminishing residents' quality of life. Sadly, the Rodrick Administration appears to be turning a blind eye, allowing slumlords and LLCs to add illegal units to single-family homes—jeopardizing the family-friendly neighborhoods that are the foundation of Toms River. I am dedicated to restoring comprehensive code enforcement to curb overdevelopment, protect our neighborhoods, preserve property values, and ensure that our community remains a safe and welcoming place for all.

The issue of homelessness in Ocean County is not going away. Rising rent costs combined with scarce availability have pushed even moderate-income residents to the brink and in some cases left them homeless. What role should Toms River have in assisting those in need?

Toms River must take a responsible, proactive approach to assist homeless individuals in finding secure housing. Mayor Rodrick has exacerbated the homeless situation through his reckless actions and ignoring the objections of the council minority. First, he approved the controversial prisoner re-entry program downtown, a blatant political favor to the Christie-McGreevy conglomerate, who publicly thanked Mayor Rodrick at the grand opening. Next, Rodrick offers hotel rooms as a temporary band-aid for the homeless, failing to address the root of the issue. He callously evicts homeless individuals from encampments with no plan, weaponizing them as a campaign issue. He shut down Code Blue from providing assistance to those in need within our town.

When all else fails, he seeks to fine and criminalize the homeless. Clearly, they cannot afford to pay the fines, and criminal charges may disqualify them from the very programs that may help them find housing. By targeting the most vulnerable in our community, he fosters division instead of unity. There are no genuine solutions, only sensational headlines. The Mayor's plan to use eminent domain to seize a church was not only another headline, but a blatant act of government overreach and is fundamentally Anti-Republican. The church has stood as a pillar in the community for over a century. Our town deserves better than the Mayor's havoc on our community.

A homeless shelter in a residential area is NOT a solution to the homelessness crisis. I strongly support our zoning laws that safeguard residential neighborhoods. I will maintain open communication and collaborate with the County to provide responsible assistance to the homeless in our community. We can develop a more effective way to help those facing housing insecurity.

What is the issue facing Toms River that you believe is the most pressing and how would you approach solving it?

I am asking voters to support my write-in candidacy to continue to fight for the best interests of our town and take back the council majority to restore checks and balances to our local government. Mayor Rodrick prioritizes his self-serving agenda over the rights and needs of our residents. Recently, he manipulated the council majority to amend the town ordinance to allow him to drive a taxpayer-funded town vehicle out of town to Irvington for his daily commute to his full-time job as an assistant principal. Not only does he have unrestricted access to the car, but he also uses taxpayer-funded gas for his commute. This highlights a troubling prioritization of personal gain over the community's best interests, raising serious concerns about his leadership and integrity.

Toms River is facing a critical decline in essential services that threaten the well-being of our community. Mayor Rodrick’s actions, which undermine the police force, are harmful to our community. Our town is faced with unprecedented violent crimes to include a fatal stabbing on Fischer Blvd, drive-by shooting in North Dover with children in the home, and the murder of a homeowner whose residence was later utilized to hide a murder suspect. The suspect committed suicide following a police standoff in East Dover. Since 2024, at least 15 officers have left, not including over a dozen more on leave. Officers are assuming the role of animal control and driving out of town to the County animal facilities. Instead of directly addressing our town's security needs, Mayor Rodrick’s administration burdens our police with impractical protocols. I will ensure that our police department receives the necessary staffing and support to effectively safeguard our community.

My priorities include combating overdevelopment, properly securing essential services such as EMT, police, and animal control, and standing against actions by the Rodrick Administration that degrade and deprive citizens of their rights and harm our residential neighborhoods, notably due to failed code enforcement allowing single-family homes to be converted into illegal multifamily rentals. I have worked for a flat municipal tax, no increase since 2021, and preserved nearly 60 acres of open space during the first two years as your councilman. The current administration has turned our council meetings into a circus and an embarrassment. We have the duty and responsibility to stop the chaos created by Mayor Rodrick.

I humbly ask Ward 3 residents to write in JAMES QUINLISK to continue to dedicate my service to our community. Let’s reinstate a standard of excellence across our neighborhoods, schools, and local government by supporting my write-in candidacy.