Judge freezes Coronato campaign account until hearing

A Superior Court judge today froze the campaign accounts of Toms River GOP mayoral candidate Joseph Coronato until a final ruling is made on whether councilman Mo Hill is entitled to his share of a joint campaign account that bears his name.

Hill is running off the line for mayor against Coronato and councilman Daniel Rodrick.

The campaign account of Coronato’s three running mates were also frozen, pending a ruling by the court.  A hearing is scheduled for Friday.

Judge Francis R. Hodgson also awarded Hill’s attorney $1,000 in legal fees.

Former Ocean County Republican Chairman George Gilmore had refused to give Hill access to a campaign account that bore his name, as well as mayor Thomas Kelaher and two other councilmen who are not seeking re-election.  The warchest had cash-on-hand of $103,300, which Hodgson froze last week.

Hill has maintained that he is entitled to a quarter of that — $25,832.