Elected As Democrats In November Of 2000, Mrs. Kearney And Rodriguez Run For Re-Election To STR Council, But Rodriguez Is Now A Republican

Nominated To The OCP “Top Ten Worst Public Officials” List In July, Democrat Councilman Became A Republican In September

South Toms River: In November of 2000, Carla Kearney and Abe Rodriguez were elected to the Borough Council here by big margins.

There were great hopes for the new Democratic Council majority, but things happen, and former councilman Steven Marshall, then a Democrat, and Rodriguez, bolted to the Republicans for reasons known only to themselves, and the GOP has controlled the local governing body again for the past fifteen months.

GOP control was reaffirmed last November when Mayor George Greitz was re-elected, along with two new council members, leaving Mrs. Kearney as the lone Democrat remaining on the governing body.

If South Toms River voters want to re-elect Rodriguez, they will have to do so over some pretty clear and convincing evidence that he is not a very good public official in a town that has known more than its fair share of bad public officials.

Rodriguez was nominated by several South Toms River Republicans last July for the OceanCountyPolitics Top Ten list of “Worst Public Officials in Ocean County”, and not without reason.

Chairman Bill Hill: “I’m Relieved That
He Is Now Their Problem”

Democratic Municipal Chairman Bill Hill said then: “frankly, I’m relieved that he is their problem from now on”, referring to the local GOP administration.

Rodriguez was appointed recycling coordinator by Greitz when he joined the council in January 2001. He was nominated for the “Ten Worst” list after it became known that he blew off a whole series of recycling meetings.

$30,000 Recycling Grant A Casualty To Rodriguez’ Ineptitude

If Rodriguez had attended the county meetings, which he promised to do, South Toms River would have qualified for a $30,000 recycling grant to build a local recycling center, a facility desperately needed by the community to save money in processing recyclables.

OceanCountyPolitics•Com verified the facts and added him to the Ten Worst list.

“Rodriguez gave the Democratic Party a black eye soon after he was sworn in”, Chairman Hill noted, noting that Rodriguez “bungled the only job  he was given as a member of the council”.

Another factor in Rodriguez’ Ten Worst” nomination was his complicity in wasting funds paying employee health insurance premiums that are as much as $4000 higher per employee than in other public agencies, a factor that is responsible for a 9¢ component in South Toms River’s record tax rate.

After his conversion to the GOP, Rodriguez said he could not support  the local Democratic ticket, which included Mrs. Kearney, the council member who criticized him for bungling the recycling grant.

STR Municipal Tax Rate Is Now $1.07, 2nd Highest In Ocean County

Complicity in South Toms River’s big tax increases was another factor in Rodriguez’ "Ten Worst" nomination. The South Toms River municipal tax rate is now $1.07, the second highest In Ocean County.

The second member of the Democratic council ticket is Melody Rhines, who is a former council candidate. Joining Rodriguez on the Republican ticket is Karen Paden, a former council member.       4/14/03

More From South Toms River As The Plot Thickens On OCP

Click Here For Rodriguez Top Ten Nomination

© Copyright 2003-2007 Ocean County Politics .com. All Rights Reserved.
Questions & Comments: gvgeditor@aol.com