TOMS RIVER, N.J. — Former Toms River Mayor Mo Hill made a rare public appearance Saturday as he and his political allies rallied at the grand opening of gubernatorial candidate Jack Ciattarelli’s new Ocean County headquarters.
Hill, who was voted out of office in 2023 after a contentious landslide election against Mayor Dan Rodrick, arrived with candidates from his faction of off-brand Toms River ‘Republicans’.
Hill’s return marks one of his firsthigh profile political events since leaving office, signaling a renewed push from his team to regain influence ahead of the upcoming election.
Key Points
- Former Mayor Mo Hill appeared publicly for the first time since his 2023 election defeat.
- Hill’s faction, including Councilmen James Quinlisk and David Ciccozzi, is backing political newcomers Robert Bianchini and Clinton Bradley.
- Incumbents Justin Lamb and William Byrne are opposing Hill’s faction in the upcoming election.
Hill’s faction plans political comeback, restoration of downtown tower project
The “Hill Team,” as they are being called, includes sitting Councilmen James Quinlisk and David Ciccozzi, alongside political newcomers Robert Bianchini and Clinton Bradley.
This slate of candidates aims to counter the current administration’s policies and, according to insiders, reinstate the downtown twin tower development project that was halted under Rodrick’s leadership.
During their first year without Hill in the mayor’s office, Quinlisk and Ciccozzi have opposed Mayor Rodrick’s efforts to scale back local government spending and his initiative to kill the controversial twin tower plan. Their opposition highlights an ongoing internal rift within the town’s Republican leadership.
They have also criticized Rodrick for cutting payroll by $5.5 million, many of which were political appointees and confidential secretaries hired by Hill.
Sources close to the campaign told Shore News Network that Hill’s faction has continued working closely with Capodagli Property Company, the original developers behind the twin tower proposal.
The project, which included two 10-story buildings in downtown Toms River, was a major point of contention in the 2023 election, even though it was later scaled down slightly.
Incumbent Republicans form counteroffensive
Meanwhile, Republican incumbents Council President Justin Lamb and Councilman William Byrne are teaming up with Anthony Matarazzo and Harry Aber to resist Hill’s attempted comeback. Their ticket is campaigning on maintaining fiscal responsibility and preventing the return of development plans they argue are against the town’s best interests, being pushed by the Hill team.
Both factions will be competing fiercely for control of the Toms River council in what is expected to be one of the township’s most heated elections in recent memory. Campaign insiders suggest that development policy and fiscal management will remain the central issues dominating the race, and the Hill team, backed by downtown developers such as Capodaglia and other prominent downtown land owners and developers. A few were present at the Ciattarelli grand opening.
The grand opening event, hosted by Jack Ciattarelli, a likely frontrunner in the 2025 New Jersey gubernatorial race, served as a rallying point for the fractured Republican base in Ocean County. While Ciattarelli did not weigh into the local political dynamics, he appears to be supporting the Hill team.
Election season in Toms River heats up
As election season intensifies, the Hill faction’s reemergence has reignited old rivalries and reestablished development plans as a central battleground. Both sides are preparing for a bitter contest that could reshape the political and physical landscape of Toms River.
Tensions between the factions are expected to influence not just the council race but also broader county and state contests, with local endorsements and political alliances hanging in the balance.