In an unprecedented move, rabbanim in Toms River have endorsed Francis “Frank” Quinn for Ocean County Commissioner, breaking from rabbinic and Jewish communal leadership in Lakewood and Jackson who have endorsed Frank Sadeghi.
The endorsement was announced in a flyer that spread late this week through text, WhatsApp, and social media.
Quinn, a political unknown, is running in column B, the Toms River slate supported by George Gilmore that includes Geri Ambrosio for Toms River Mayor and Sergio Fossa for Toms River Council.
Fossa is a Christian pastor who preaches that only believers of his faith will get into heaven and that those who don’t are “children of the devil,” raising questions over whether he is the right candidate to represent Orthodox Jews, who don’t share his religious beliefs.
There has been chatter for several weeks that the Toms River Rabbamin would support Geri Ambrosio over Mo Hill for mayor because Hill rejected demands that the Township’s engineer be fired and because Hill was moving too slowly in amending zoning laws to allow more shuls.
However, withholding their support for Sadeghi for Commissioner is a major break with their Lakewood and Jackson counterparts.
