PARSIPPANY — The New Jersey Globe (click here to read) has reported that Parsippany Councilman Justin Musella, 32, is expected to launch his bid for mayor on Saturday, June 29, announcing plans to challenge incumbent Jamie Barberio in the June 2025 Republican primary. Parsippany Focus confirmed that the announcement will be held at 51 Gibraltar Drive at 1:00 p.m.
The two Republicans have clashed for most of the last three years, with Musella alleging that Barberio’s budget process lacks transparency and criticizing the mayor’s inability to deliver tax cuts while providing developers with 30-year tax breaks through Payment-in-Lieu of Taxes (PILOT) programs.
Musella, a former chairman of Morris County Young Republicans, was elected to the township council in 2021 after local Republicans split their ticket in a contested and divisive primary. Musella emerged as the top vote-getter in the general election among all the candidates.
Barberio was first elected mayor in 2009 and re-elected in 2013. Soriano ousted him in 2017 by 834 votes, 53%-47%. In 2021, Barberio defeated Soriano by a margin of approximately 1,000 votes.
Barberio hasn’t officially announced his candidacy for Mayor, although he filed his intent to run for Mayor with the New Jersey Election Enforcement Committee (Click here to view). Previously, Former Council Vice President Robert Peluso and President Lou Valori challenged Barberio in a Republican primary. Valori has moved from Parsippany.
Peluso has filed his intent to run for Mayor with the New Jersey Election Enforcement Committee (Click here to view).
Musella and Neglia’s council and Barberio’s Mayoral seats are up for re-election in 2025. The Primary will be held on June 3, 2025.
