PARSIPPANY — Parsippany Republican Committee Secretary Isabella Alfano, candidate for Morris County Surrogate, engaged in petty and personal attacks against her opponent, Freeholder Heather Darling, in Facebook posts on Monday, May 13. In addition to hitting Darling on alleged “topless photos of her” online, Alfano charged that Darling’s political career was advanced due to an “improper” romantic relationship.
“Mudslinging about personal lives and physical appearance is an all too common obstacle women face when running for office, and we are unfortunately seeing that pattern continue in the Morris County Surrogate’s race and the Parsippany GOP,” said Meghan Lynch, chairwoman of the Morris County Democratic Women’s Caucus (MCDWC). “The comments made by Isabella Alfano perpetuate the difficulties most female candidates experience, and should be a rallying cry for Republicans of conscience to call for her resignation from her party post.”
The “Unity Ticket” of incumbent Parsippany GOP Councilmembers Paul Carifi, Michael dePierro, and Loretta Gragnani are running under the banner of the Parsippany GOP in the June primary with the support of the Parsippany Republican Committee’s Executive Board. The MCDWC is urging Carifi, dePierro, and Gragnani in particular, as standard-bearers of the organization, to publicly call for Alfano’s resignation as Parsippany GOP Secretary.
“The time has come for both parties to say no to image-shaming in all its forms,” Lynch continued. “We should be able to stand up together and say what is clear: this is wrong.”
