TOMS RIVER, NJ — Anthony Matarazzo, a candidate for Toms River Township Council in Ward 4, is facing growing scrutiny over more than $80,000 in campaign donations from developers and professionals tied to the building industry. Running under the “Rodrick Team” banner with Mayor Dan Rodrick’s endorsement, Matarazzo’s candidacy is becoming a flashpoint in the debate over unchecked development in Toms River.
Adding fuel to the controversy is the position of the Matarazzo family within Toms River. Specifically, Matarazzo’s wife, Marisa Matarazzo, currently runs the Toms River Construction Department. The position that wields significant influence over building approvals and code enforcement decisions in the township.
A Surge in Developer-Backed Donations
Matarazzo’s campaign finance reports show a wave of support from developers, real estate professionals, and related industries, raising concerns about whether his council candidacy is being propped up by interests looking to fast-track projects and sidestep resident concerns. For a local ward race, the $80,000 figure is remarkably high, especially in a township where development is already a divisive issue.
Local watchdogs warn that the convergence of developer money and inside access to the construction department creates a dangerous appearance of impropriety, if not outright conflict of interest.
Rodrick’s Record on Development
Mayor Rodrick, who has thrown his full support behind Matarazzo, has presided over an unprecedented spike in building approvals. In just his first year in office, Rodrick’s administration issued more building permits than any mayor in Toms River’s history. Critics say this record pace of development has been rubber-stamped by a construction department now led by Matarazzo’s wife.
Rodrick has also worked to roll back regulations intended to slow overdevelopment, repealing requirements for home inspections and facilitating rapid approvals that have alarmed longtime residents. Many fear Toms River is heading down the path of dense, city-style growth that is out of step with the town’s suburban identity and infrastructure capacity.
Insider Control and Resident Concerns
According to multiple sources inside Town Hall, the construction department under Marisa Matarazzo has become highly politicized, with directives allegedly flowing from the Mayor’s Office to department leadership. Residents have reported questionable approvals for commercial use in residential zones, multi-family conversions in single-family neighborhoods, and the greenlighting of massive home additions that exceed zoning intent.
Meanwhile, Anthony Matarazzo has largely stayed out of the public spotlight, campaigning quietly under the Mayor’s wing while opponents raise concerns about transparency, ethics, and accountability.
Voters Face a Defining Choice
With the June 10 primary fast approaching, voters in Ward 4 must decide whether to endorse the current trajectory or push back against what many view as a developer-driven agenda. Matarazzo’s opponents have made development a central issue, arguing that insider politics and unchecked growth threaten to erode the suburban character of Toms River.
One thing is clear: with major money pouring in, a politically connected candidate on the ballot, and a township changing rapidly, the outcome in Ward 4 could shape Toms River’s future for years to come.
