A New Jersey mayor berated a resident during a heated council meeting, telling her to “get a job” and mocking her by asking whether she still lived in her parents’ basement.
Toms River Mayor Daniel Rodrick made the remarks after longtime resident Dana Tormollan confronted him on Oct. 19 over political letters she said had been included with her tax bills.
“I told you to stop sending me this crap,” Tormollan said as she approached the microphone during the public comment portion of the Toms River Township Council meeting.
“I didn’t send you anything,” Rodrick replied. “Did you get a job yet, Dana?”
“Are you still living in the basement at home?” the mayor added mockingly, prompting groans from people in the gallery.
Tormollan attempted to answer, but Rodrick continued questioning her about where she lived, appearing to suppress laughter as he spoke.
“I live in my own house and pay my own bills, so back off, jackass, because you’re collecting benefits on these people’s backs. You’re a piece of crap. Shut up,” the frustrated resident responded.
“Right, right, get a job,” Rodrick continued, even as Tormollan insisted that she already had one.
The confrontation soon spilled across the meeting room, with several attendees shouting at one another.
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The exchange intensified after Council President David Ciccozzi told Rodrick to stop “interrupting the public.”
Tormollan said the letter from Rodrick’s office highlighted accomplishments the mayor claimed to have achieved during his term.
“We had gotten our tax bills and his letter was in there full of things that were not true,” Tormollan told NJ.com after the meeting. “I was going to go in and just say, ‘Stop wasting residents’ money by sending out your political nonsense.’”
During her public comment, Tormollan challenged the accuracy of the figures cited in the letter. Rodrick and an ally pushed back, accusing her of lying.
“It’s right here, you jackass,” Tormollan said, slamming the letter onto the desk in front of the mayor.
Tormollan said her anger was also fueled by Rodrick’s treatment of older women who had spoken earlier in the meeting.
“If he was speaking to my mother that way, I would not sit here… It’s really gross and extremely unprofessional,” Tormollan told the outlet.
At Tuesday’s meeting, the council voted 4-3 to approve a resolution of no confidence in Rodrick, citing his “reprehensible behavior, disruption of official proceedings and decorum violations.”
Rodrick also faced a recall campaign in February, but opponents failed to collect enough signatures to trigger an election.