Toms River Mayor Mo Hill says his “outspoken criticism” of New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy has cost him his position as a member of the Board of Commissioners of the South Jersey Transportation Authority (SJTA).
Hill has been critical of Murphy’s sanctuary state policies, his draconian school funding cuts, his failure to invest in Ocean County infrastructure, particularly Routes 9 and 70.
Most notably, Hill has been outspoken critic of the Murphy Department of Environmental Protection’s plan to allow BASF to develop 250 acres of contaminated property on the Ciba-Geigy site in Toms River.
Hill, who is facing a tough primary challenge from Councilman Daniel Rodrick in June’s primary election, has also been outspoken regarding “people of different cultures” who are “seemingly threatening the way of life” Toms River residents currently enjoy, according to a recent campaign flier from the Hill campaign.
Hill served as a volunteer member of the SJTA, the authority that oversees Atlantic City International Airport and the Atlantic City Expressway since 2011.
“I enjoyed my service 11 years of service on the SJTA,” Hill said in a statement, adding that his work “led to improved public safety in Toms River.”
“I was able to work with NJDOT Commissioner Diane Gutierrez-Scacetti to increase the time interval of the left turn signals on both the Whitesville Rd. and Rt. 70 and Massachusetts Ave. and Rt. 70 intersections. That has resulted in a 75% reduction of traffic accidents with no fatalities,” Hill added.
Murphy has replaced Mayor Hill with Zoe Baldwin, a former staffer to U.S. Senators Cory Booker and Frank Lautenberg.
The New Jersey State Senate confirmed the Baldwin’s appointment during their voting session on May 22.
Baldwin, 41, is a resident of Neptune, Monmouth County and works as the New Jersey Director of the Regional Plan Association, a 501 c-3 non-profit organization that seeks to improve the prosperity, sustainability and quality of life of the New York metropolitan region through research in transportation, economic development, housing, real estate, climate change, open space, and more.
Baldwin was a Projects Director on the staff of U.S, Senator Cory Booker from 2013 through July of 2016 and a Senior Specialist on the staff of the late Senator Frank Lautenberg from 2011 -2013 when Booker filled the seat.