Toms River councilman sued over post on 'fake news' site Scroll down to read the defamation suit.

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 - Brick Democratic leader Robyn Gedrich has filed a defamation lawsuit against Toms River Councilman Daniel T. Rodrick, accusing him of posting an inaccurate story on a website he controls that claimed Gedrich had been hired by Brick Township.

But Rodrick, who announced earlier this year he was leaving the Democratic Party and becoming a Republican, contends he does not own any websites and said the lawsuit is "just another Democratic hit job."

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"People are tired of the dirty smear tactics of the Democrats, which is why they’ve already suffered the defection of two councilmen here in Ocean County," Rodrick said, referring to himself and Brick Councilman James Fozman, who left the Democrats and became a Republican in August.

The suit filed by Gedrich, who is vice chairwoman of the Brick Democrats, claims Rodrick operates several "fake news" websites which specialize in political postings. The sites include the Ocean County Chronicle, Brick Beacon and Toms River Weekly.

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The suit claims Rodrick also owns and operates Facebook pages that include Jackson Watch, Brick Watch, Toms River Watch and Toms River Taxpayers.

On Oct. 4, an article appeared on the Chronicle website about Gedrich, with the headline, "Job Given to Mayor Ducey's New Democratic Party Underboss," the lawsuit states. The posting also said Gedrich had been "hired at the Township of Brick," and contained a photograph of Gedrich, implying she had received a patronage job.

On Sept. 24, Gedrich had posted on her personal Facebook page, "Started New Job at Township of Brick Municipal Government." Gedrich serves as a commissioner on the Brick Township Housing Authority, an unpaid position, but said she "does not now, and has not ever, had a salaried or paid position with the Township of Brick."

Gedrich, 25, was appointed to the seven-member Housing Authority Board of Commissioners last year. Previously, she had garnered attention for using the dating app Tinder to promote the presidential candidacy of Bernie Sanders in 2016.

She unsuccessfully sought a seat on the Ocean County Board of Freeholders in 2016. In her suit, Gedrich says she told Rodrick that the story was false on Oct. 4, the day it first appeared on the Chronicle site. But Rodrick refused to remove the posting, which remains on the site.

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The suit seeks an unspecified amount for damages, as well as the payment of Gedrich's legal fees. Read the lawsuit below.

The lawsuit was filed on Oct. 9 and served to Rodrick in dramatic fashion at that night's Township Council meeting. Rodrick and other council members seemed startled when a man approached the dais during the meeting and handed Rodrick an envelope containing Gedrich's suit.

The episode was videotaped and posted on YouTube later that night.

Rodrick said Democrats in Ocean County are "still reeling from the endorsement of Republican Bob Hugin by Teddy Price, their own Democratic Freeholder Candidate. They smeared Mr. Price and now they are smearing me."

Price, who is seeking a freeholder seat this year, was previously president of the Toms River Democratic Club. He angered Democrats when he endorsed GOP candidate Bob Hugin against Sen. Robert Menendez, the incumbent Democrat, in this year's Senate race.

Rodrick left the Democratic Party in July, only about six months after taking office.

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).

Learn more about why Rodrick switched in the video above this story.

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