(TOMS RIVER, N.J.) — A tense exchange during Toms River’s September 23 Township Council meeting drew criticism of Mayor Daniel Rodrick, while an OpGov.News poll shows a majority of participating respondents are dissatisfied with his leadership.
This comes amid contention over whether Toms River would record township meetings in full and broadcast all public comments, and a court ruling earlier this year that public comments must broadcast via livestream in full.
The incident began during the public comment of Toms River resident Carlos Almanzar. While Almanzar was speaking, the mayor got up and left the room to speak to another resident outside the hall. Almanzar asked all parties to sit back down until he finished his comment, but an unidentified individual said that Rodrick “doesn’t want to hear it," and left the room.
Almanzar noted that it was “good” that the meeting was live, so that people’s voices could be “heard and recorded.” Nonetheless, he expressed that he cannot “have a conversation with [the] gentleman that runs” the town, and that while Rodrick was “supposed” to be his representative, he cannot speak to him with comments or concerns.
According to Almanzar, he had previously gone so far as to giving out his phone number in the hope of communication with his elected leader. “Last time I said...I would like for you to get in touch with me,” Almanzar said, “I gave [you] my phone number… get in touch with me.”
Photo Credit: Toms River Township / Carlos Almanzar speaking at Toms River's Township Council meeting on September 23.
Almanzar also spoke about multiple events he had attended in the area recently, indicating how they reflected a lack of leadership on the part of the mayor. He explained, for example, that while at a recent 9/11 event most of the township council members were present, except Mayor Rodrick. Almanzar recounted that, “people more important than" the mayor took time out of their schedules to be at the event, and that "he should have been there.”
Almanzar also noted that at the public hearing regarding the parkway interchanges he noticed Mayor Rodrick was present. He said that the mayor “made it loud and clear" that he was going "to go and shake everybody’s hands.”
“Why?" Almanzar asked rhetorically, "Because he’s looking for sound[clips]."
With all of this contention, Almanzar said that his goal was to bring attention to the issue so that people can “really see what’s going on." He also wanted Mayor Rodrick to “wake up and become a man.”
While Almanzar's opinions were articulated during the meeting, the thoughts of the community at large are less clean cut. In order to gain insight into the feelings of residents in the area, OpGov.News conducted an independent poll using Nextdoor asking participants for their thoughts about the mayor. Of the 55 individuals who participated, 32 (58.1%) believed that Roderick is not "doing what's right for the people."
Photo Credit: Alexis Nigro / Nextdoor
While a majority of those polled did not view Rodrick favorably, a combined total of 23 participants (41.8%) had no opinion or thought he was “doing a great job.” Adrianne Parish, a 40-year resident of Toms River, explained that she believed Rodrick was “doing more to protect” Toms River than his predecessor had done.
Parish also said that Rodrick is “trying to preserve what is left of the charm and livability” that Toms River possesses.
Other participants described the mayor more critically. Maria Simonelli said Roderick was "destructive" and that she does not approve of his leadership. Barry Colicelli and Noreen Leahy claimed Rodrick was "terrible" and "horrible," respectively.
OpGov.News reached out to Mayor Rodrick and Carlos Almanzar for comment, but at the time of publication had not received a response.
To add to or correct any information in this report or to share tips or a story, please contact me at alexis.n@lead4earth.org.
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