PARSIPPANY — Councilman Mike dePierro, Council President Paul Carifi, Jr. and Councilwoman Loretta Gragnani announced tonight that they were running as a united Republican ticket for Parsippany-Troy Hills Township Council in the June primary and urged residents to maintain Republican representation in local government this November as an important check-and-balance against Governor Phil Murphy’s far-left agenda.
“We are running as an experienced team committed to affordability, safe schools and neighborhoods, economic growth, open space preservation, and responsible planning,” said dePierro, Carifi and Gragnani in a joint statement. “With Governor Murphy’s far-left agenda already raising taxes by over a billion dollars and turning New Jersey into a Sanctuary State for criminal illegal immigrants, our community needs Republican representation on Township Council more than ever.”
An Air Force Veteran from the Vietnam era and a Life Member of VFW Post 10184, Councilman dePierro has made service to his community and his country a way of life for more than five decades. After serving six years on the local school board, Mike was first elected to Township Council from 1982 to 1997, and then again from 2000 to present. Mike and his wife Dee have been married for 58 years with three children and ten grandchildren are active parishioners of St. Ann church for 35 years.
“Experience still matters and I offer the people of Parsippany decades of it,” said dePierro, who graduated from Fairleigh Dickinson University with an Electrical Engineering degree and was a Systems Manager with Bell for 30 years. “I am proud of the role I’ve played in making Parsippany the attractive community it is today, and I am running for re-election to continue making a difference in the town I love.”
A township resident for 45 years who proudly went through the local school system, Carifi, Jr. enjoyed a decorated 25-year career in law enforcement with the Morris County Sheriff’s Office and has been a member of Township Council since late 2011. Paul graduated with a B.A. from East Stroudsburg University in Sociology / Criminal Justice, as well as from the West Point Leadership and Command Class. He has also completed the NJ Certified Public Managers Program. Carifi, Jr. is a parishioner at St. Christopher’s Church and a member of the Sons of Italy.
“Democrats have complete, one-party control in Trenton and we see how that’s working out for the State,” said Carifi, Jr. “Here in Parsippany, Republican watchdogs on the Council is critical to ensuring our community has a check-and-balance on Governor Murphy’s extreme agenda.”
A successful small business owner for 29 years, now retired, Councilwoman Gragnani is running for her second term on Township Council after first being elected in 2015. Loretta and her husband Adam have been married for 55 years with two children and three grandchildren and have called Parsippany home for over 50 years. Gragnani has volunteered at the Stickley Museum at Craftsman Farms and a Past Trustee, Advisory Board and Finance Council Member at St. Ann Church.
“Three years ago, I ran as someone who could bring the perspective of a successful business owner to government,” said Gragnani. “With the extreme anti-business, anti-jobs policies coming out of Trenton, that private sector experience is more critical than ever to have on Council in Parsippany.”
