Daniel Rodrick recall, Toms River, New Jersey (2025)

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Daniel Rodrick recall
Danielrodrick.jpg
Officeholders
Daniel Rodrick
Recall status
Underway
Signature requirement
18,464 signatures
See also
Recall overview
Political recall efforts, 2025
Recalls in New Jersey
New Jersey recall laws
Mayoral recalls
Recall reports

An effort to recall Mayor Daniel Rodrick is underway in Toms River, New Jersey. The recall was approved for signature gathering on August 19, 2025. Recall organizers have 160 days to gather 18,464 valid signatures.[1]

Recall supporters

The recall effort is organized by Toms River residents Phillip Brilliant, Dana Tormollan, and Christopher Raimann. The group's website lists the following as grounds for recalling Rodrick:[2]

  • Charity Opposition: Attempts by Toms River Mayor Daniel Rodrick to shut down JBJ Soul Kitchen and dismiss Just Believe have raised significant concerns.
  • Misuse of Funds: $18,000 has been spent on misleading communications with the police department, wasting taxpayer money on movies, concerts, and fireworks without Council approval—key reasons for recall.
  • Mass Firings: Over 70 employees in Toms River were dismissed and replaced with patronage, further fueling discontent.
  • Public Safety Reduction: Under Mayor Rodrick, the Toms River Police Department is at its lowest staffing levels this century, resulting in the closure of Silverton EMS and longer emergency response times—ask Councilwoman O'Toole.
  • Safety Dilution: There has been a loosening of rental property standards.
  • Animal Shelter Closure: The facility was shut down despite protests from voters and a referendum, leading to the dismissal of all Animal Control Officers.
  • Opaque Hiring Practices: Political allies, along with family and friends, have been appointed without transparency.
  • Development Diversion: Mayor Rodrick broke a contract and is being sued by a developer while development remains uncontrolled in North Dover. He has continuously told residents that there will be 'No new apartments as Toms River has met its State Affordable Housing Mandate without new construction,' despite the absence of an approved plan by the NJ Department of Community Affairs—only a proposal exists.
  • Criminalized Homelessness: The Council was forced to approve an ordinance under Rodrick's leadership to fine or jail the homeless who loiter in the Municipal Parking Lot, as well as those who assist them. Individuals were forcibly removed from the parking deck, and their belongings were confiscated.
  • Eminent Domain over Church: The Toms River Mayor moved to seize Christ Episcopal Church for the development of pickle-ball courts and a park.[3]

Recall opponents

In response to the recall effort, Rodrick said, "This is the fourth time that the members of the Mo Hill club have claimed to be starting a recall petition. My administration has kept taxes flat for two years in a row, cut the budget by $11 million or 9%, stopped the towers, repealed 15-story zoning downtown – and last, but not least – we met the state’s 10-year affordable housing obligation without having to build any new apartments. These are just our headline accomplishments. We’ve also commissioned several new parks, two spray parks, a municipal pier, and we got grant funding to extend the boardwalk in Ortley Beach. I could go on, but there are too many accomplishments to list,” he said. “The fact is, these are just disgruntled people who fed at the trough of government for decades and they just won’t go away."[4]

Path to the ballot

See also: Laws governing recall in New Jersey

No specific grounds are required for recall in New Jersey. To begin the recall process, at least three registered voters in the jurisdiction must form a recall committee and notify the appropriate election official of the names and addresses of at least three members of the recall committee. To get the recall on the ballot, supporters must collect signatures equal to 25% of the registered voters in the jurisdiction as of the last general election in 160 days.[5][6][7]

Recall context

See also: Ballotpedia's Recall Report

Ballotpedia covers recall efforts across the country for all state and local elected offices. A recall effort is considered official if the petitioning party has filed an official form, such as a notice of intent to recall, with the relevant election agency.

The chart below shows how many officials were included in recall efforts from 2012 to 2024 as well as how many of them defeated recall elections to stay in office and how many were removed from office in recall elections.


See also

External links

Footnotes