Dear Editor:
As a Parsippany resident who was elected to and served on the Board of Education and as a Republican who has run for his Party’s nomination for the Town Council, I have had the occasion to meet with and talk to many Parsippany voters over the years. Without exception those conversations have focused on the need to elect candidates who will put Parsippany first and who will have the courage to stand up for what is right even when it means having to stand alone to make sure that all good ideas are considered and that all possible options are explored.
Recently, I have been asked by a number of friends and neighbors whom I plan to vote for in the Republican primary in June and I must admit that I have had some difficulty making that decision. After considerable thought I have concluded that blocking Mayor Barberio’s badly flawed agenda is absolutely critical to protect Parsippany’s future. For that reason I plan to split my ballot and cast my vote for Paul Carifi, John Beehler and Loretta Gragnani. I do so, not because I believe that Mr. dePierro and Mr. Ferrara are bad people but because these two gentleman have repeatedly failed to stand up to Mayor Barberio who (with their support) has consistently chosen to put his personal and political self interests ahead of what is best for Parsippany. I will vote for Mrs. Gragnani (even though she is on the dePierro/Ferrara slate) with the hope that she will have the courage to stand on her own and use her past experience serving Parsippany to make independent decisions that will keep Parsippany’s best interests in mind. My vote for Mr. Carifi takes into account that, though he and I may disagree on some issues, he has consistently demonstrated a willingness to listen to matters that concern residents and to vote in their best interests. My vote for Mr. Beeler is not a vote against Ms. Visakay but rather a bet that this political newcomer will bring a fresh and much needed new perspective to Parsippany’s Republican party.
I close by saying that I know that sharing these thoughts may be viewed by some as being a highly presumptuous act and I stand guilty as charged. Having said that I invite other Parsippany Republicans to share their thoughts before the election and more importantly to exercise their right to vote in the June 2 Primary.
Bob Crawford
Parsippany New Jersey 07054
