Toms River councilman dumps Democrats, joins Republicans

Jean Mikle | Asbury Park Press

Show Caption Hide Caption Toms River Councilman switches parties, becomes a Republican Toms River Councilman Daniel Rodrick announced that he's switching parties from Democrat to a Republican, less than a year after he was elected to the council.

TOMS RIVER - Saying, "I can no longer associate myself with the Democratic Party," Councilman Daniel T. Rodrick abruptly switched parties Tuesday, announcing that he'll become a registered Republican.

"It's become more and more apparent that the Democratic Party is out of touch with middle-class workers and taxpayers," Rodrick read from a prepared speech at Tuesday night's Township Council meeting. "And while I will continue to fight overdevelopment, I can no longer associate myself with the Democratic Party."

Rodrick's switch will leave the Republicans with a 5-to-2 edge on the council. Mayor Thomas F. Kelaher is also a Republican. Learn more about Toms River politics by watching the video above this story.

Rodrick cited national and state issues for his decision to switch parties, criticizing "Trenton Democrats" for reducing state school aid to Toms River. He said national Democrats are "fighting tougher border security tooth and nail," and also bashed some Democrats who have called for the abolition of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).

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Rodrick noted he was a Republican for more than 20 years before he switched party affiliations joined the Democrats' ticket in 2015.

"I'm going to continue to do what's right and vote my conscience," Rodrick said after the meeting. In his prepared statement, he noted, "I have always considered myself a conservative."

He said he and his wife went to the county Board of Elections Tuesday and picked up forms to change their party affiliation from Democrat to Republican. He turned in the forms Wednesday morning.

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Toms River Democrats were quick to respond to Rodrick's party switch, with Democratic Municipal Chairman Ben Giovine saying Rodrick is out for himself.

"I’m not surprised. The Republican party in Ocean has lots of money in their campaign coffers and plenty of patronage jobs to hand out. Dan is out for Dan — the Republican party may be a good fit for him, but it’s certainly the wrong fit for voters who rejected Republican patronage last November," Giovine said in a prepared statement.

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In his brief time on the council, Rodrick has occasionally clashed with both Republicans and Democrats. He has had a particularly rocky relationship with GOP Councilman George E. Wittmann Jr., who heads the council's finance committee.

Earlier this year, the two bickered on the dais, arguing over whether Democrats or Republicans were more responsible for producing a 2018 municipal budget with no tax increase.

Rodrick repeatedly interrupted Wittmann's statement about the budget, leading Council President Brian Kubiel to bang the gavel in an attempt to get Rodrick to stop.

"This rude behavior is unacceptable," Wittmann said then.

Privately, some Republicans have blamed Rodrick — perhaps working together with other Democrats — for the leak of an email sent by Wittmann to more than 400 township and police department employees in early May.

"We should discuss this at our caucus meeting to see if anyone is interested in the club," Wittmann wrote May 1, in response to an email about a job posting for a confidential secretary's position.

Wittmann meant to send his message to Kubiel, but hit "reply all" by mistake, sending the missive to more than 400 township and police department employees.

A copy of the email chain was sent to the Asbury Park Press.

Wittmann has insisted there is "nothing untoward" about his message, and added that job was not offered to any particular individual.

Rodrick has not commented publicly about the email flap.

But in May, Rodrick said he was confronted at Toms River's Food Fest by township's longtime director of health and human services, who he said publicly berated him, threatening that he "would never get another senior vote again" if he did not leave Wittmann alone.

While he's sometimes clashed with GOP council members, Rodrick also angered Democrats this spring when he joined with Republicans to criticize Democratic Gov. Phil Murphy's budget. Rodrick said the budget will hurt middle class taxpayers.

Last year, Rodrick and his runningmates, Democrats Laurie Huryk and Terrance Turnbach, rode a wave of voter anger about overdevelopment and rising taxes to an election victory that shocked the political establishment here.

They became the first Democrats to win an election in this staunchly Republican town in more than a decade.

Rodrick represents Ward 2, which includes the northern sections of Silverton, neighborhoods along Hooper, Bay and Oak avenues, and the Holiday City at Silverton and Greenbriar Woodlands adult communities.

Rodrick said the change in his party affiliation will not change how he votes.

"I'm going to support what I believe is best for the residents," Rodrick said.

Jean Mikle: 732-643-4050, @jeanmikle, jmikle@gannettnj.com