In a groundbreaking victory, Shmuel “Sam” Ellenbogen of Toms River, NJ has been elected to the Ocean County Board of Commissioners, marking the first time an Orthodox Jew will hold a countywide office in Ocean County’s history.
The win places him on the powerful five-member board that manages the county’s infrastructure, public safety, and social services for nearly 650,000 residents.
Ellenbogen’s election caps years of steady public involvement and bridge-building. A familiar name in local civic circles, he co-founded the Toms River Jewish Community Council (TRJCC) in 2018, creating a platform to strengthen understanding between the rapidly growing Orthodox community and their non-Jewish neighbors. The council’s work—ranging from public safety education to interfaith dialogue and community relations—earned him widespread respect across the political and religious spectrum.
His first official government appointment came in 2021 when he joined the Ocean County Utilities Authority, where he eventually became treasurer. In that role, Ellenbogen helped oversee large-scale infrastructure expansion to meet the region’s explosive population growth, particularly in areas like Toms River, Lakewood, and Jackson.
Yippee Yahoo! I’m doing cartwheels and backflips as I comment.
His data dGalusa