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Council Urges Schools To Sue Accused Ex-Superintendent

TOMS RIVER, N.J. (AP) -- The Toms River Township Council was again urging school officials to sue a former superintendent facing corruption charges.

Michael Ritacco was accused of taking as much as $2 million in a bribery kickback scheme involving his leadership of the Toms River Regional school district.

And for the second time in a month, the council has written the board and urged it to sue Ritacco, who maintains his innocence and has predicted he will be acquitted.

Mayor Thomas Kelaher said the council wants an answer for the public before its Dec. 14 meeting.

Ritacco allegedly took bribes from the school district's insurance broker. He retired Oct. 21 -- the same day he surrendered to the FBI in Newark.

The board's offices were closed Friday and a spokesperson could not be reached for comment.

(Copyright 2010 The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.)

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