PARSIPPANY — The crowd was so large for the “Get-out-the-vote rally” for Democratic Candidate Michael Soriano, and his two running mates Emily Peterson and Janice McCarthy, at the Murphy Campaign Headquarters on Gibraltar Drive, that it had to be moved outside in the fifty degree weather. As the time approached the arrival of Cory Booker and Phil Murphy the crowd kept getting larger and larger. It was estimated over 300 Morris County Democrats, Independents and Republicans came out to support Parsippany Mayoral Candidate Michael Soriano and New Jersey Governor Candidate Phil Murphy.
Unite States Senator Cory Booker and New Jersey Governor Candidate Phil Murphy arrived and was greeted by the hundred or so supporters waiting to hear what the duo had to say.
Morris County Democrat Chairman Chip Robinson opened the rally and introduced Senator Richard Codey. Before introducing Soriano, Codey talked about walking through Parsippany campaigning, and stopping to shoot some basketball hoops.
Soriano, introduced by Sen. Richard Codey, repeated his campaign vow to “clean up Parsippany” and said “There are some who think we are in very dark times right now, and I can understand that. But I don’t think we are going to get through these dark times thinking in dark ways and acting in dark ways.” He praised the great job the township employees are doing, and expressed by Cleaning Up Parsippany he means clean up the government. On my first day, John Inglesino will be the first to go.
He continued “Keep in mind that in this crowd, I have supporters that are Republican and unaffiliated voters. And I appreciate what you’ve done, and your support here in Parsippany.”
Daily Record endorsed Michael Soriano. The Daily Record said “But in many ways this election isn’t as much about Barberio as it is about Township Attorney John Inglesino, Barberio’s influential and controversial right-hand man. Critics, including Soriano, say Inglesino serves as the de facto mayor who owes his outsized influence to a chummy relationship with Gov. Chris Christie. Inglesino does indeed dominate public discussions at council meetings in ways rarely seen from a municipal lawyer, all while raking in hefty fees Soriano says go far beyond reasonable legal expenses. Soriano doesn’t pull his punches, promising that his Day One act as mayor would be to dump Inglesino. An electrician by trade, Soriano has been involved with the local Democratic party but never before ran for public office. He said he targeted the mayor’s seat primarily it would give him authority to replace Inglesino.”
Soriano introduced US Senator Corey Booker to the crowd.
Booker said “People keep coming up to me and saying, ‘You’re running for mayor of Parsippany?’ No, I’m not.”
“To have him literally say this is not a partisan rally, that this is a rally for this great town that I look to represent, that’s what we should be looking for in our elected officials,” Booker said.
Booker introduced Phil Murphy as “My friend, the honorable, the great, the next Governor of the State of New Jersey, Phil Murphy.”
Phil Murphy opened his speech with “Holy Mackerel we have three days to go. Three days to go. We are Brendan, Tammy and I have 538 days into this, with three to go, not that we are counting.” He continued by saying “Equal pay for equal work.”
Murphy introduced Soriano’s running council running mates, Janice McCarthy and Emily Peterson, and shouted out several Morris County towns where he hopes to see Democratic win on election day.
Murphy urged the crowd to keep campaigning over the next three days.
Ending his speech he said “Morris County, we are going to rock this on Tuesday. God Bless all.”
The Bergen Record endorsed Phil Murphy. The Bergen Record said “We see Murphy as more authentic. We believe he is better capable of forging alliances not only with Democrats, but with Republicans in the Legislature. And given the climate in Washington, D.C., he is more likely to push back against federal policies and congressional actions that will negatively impact New Jersey.”
