Daniel T. Rodrick is a Republican municipal official and educator serving as Mayor of Toms River Township in Ocean County. Elected in November 2023 on an anti-development platform, he assumed office on January 1, 2024, after serving six years on the Township Council.

Prior to his mayoral tenure, Rodrick worked as a public school science teacher for 23 years in the Middletown Township Public School District, where he began his career in 2002 at Middletown High School North before transferring to Thorne Middle School in 2009. In 2025, he became an assistant principal at Irvington High School in Essex County.

Rodrick entered politics in 2017, when he was elected as a Democrat to represent Ward 2 on the Toms River Township Council. In July 2018, he switched his party affiliation to Republican, citing state budget concerns and immigration policy disputes. He unsuccessfully challenged incumbent Mayor Maurice B. "Mo" Hill Jr. in the 2019 Republican primary before winning the mayoral election in 2023 with nearly 70% of the vote.

His administration has been marked by significant policy changes including repealing a controversial home inspection ordinance, reducing municipal staffing levels, and opposing high-density downtown development. His tenure has also generated substantial controversy and political conflict, including a failed recall effort in early 2026 and ongoing disputes with the Township Council majority.

Political Career

• Member, Toms River Township Council, Ward 2 (2018– 2023); elected 2017 as Democrat, switched to Republican July 2018 
• Candidate for Mayor, Toms River (2019, unsuccessful)
• Mayor, Toms River Township (2024–present); term expires December 31, 2027 
• Faced recall effort (August 2025–January 2026); organizers failed to submit required 18,464 signatures by January 26, 2026 deadline 

Key Policy Areas

• Anti-development and growth management (opposition to high-density residential projects)
• Municipal fiscal restraint and budget reduction
• Public safety staffing and resource allocation
• Homelessness and social services regulation
• Government transparency and anti-patronage initiatives
• Education funding and school district advocacy

Notable Actions / Initiatives

• Repealed the township's home inspection ordinance in January 2024, which he argued had "jammed up over 2,000 homeowners" by creating delays and expenses in property sales 
• Reduced municipal staffing by over 70 positions, replacing employees with administration allies (per recall organizers); opponents also cite reduction of police staffing to lowest levels this century and closure of Silverton EMS 
• Closed the township's animal shelter despite voter protests and a referendum on the issue (per recall organizers) 
• Supported ordinance to fine or jail homeless individuals loitering in the Municipal Parking Lot and those assisting them; authorized removal of individuals and confiscation of belongings from the parking deck (per recall organizers) 
• Attempted to seize Christ Episcopal Church via eminent domain for development of pickleball courts and park (per recall organizers) 
• Vetoed a Township Council resolution approving police promotions in early 2026, citing opposition to "fake Republicans" on the council 
• Filed lawsuit in November 2025 against Middletown Township Board of Education alleging political retaliation through tenure charges filed in December 2024; claims coordinated campaign by political opponents to end his 23-year teaching career 

Education
• Bachelor of Science in Geology, Environmental Science, and Education, Monmouth University
• Master of Arts in Administration and Supervision

Personal

• Birth date: Approximately 1976–1977 (age 47 as of January 2024) 
• Residence: Toms River, New Jersey
• Occupation: Assistant Principal, Irvington High School (2025–present)