1.  What is your educational and volunteer background?
I have an Electrical Engineering Degree. I moved to Parsippany in 1965 when I accepted a job offer from Bell Telephone Laboratories. I retired from the Bell System after 30 years of service. I then served as Manager of Telecommunications for the State of New Jersey.

My wife Dee and I raised our three children here. Our ten grandchildren have roots here because of my involvement. For the past 55 years, I have been involved with PTA’s, Boosters, Soccer, Little Leagues, Saint Ann Church, Civic Organizations, Boy Scouts, Rotary, Sons of Italy, Craftsman Farms, the Chamber of Commerce, the American Legion, the Veterans of Foreign Wars (I served in the Air Force during the Vietnam War), and many others.

2.  Why did you choose to run for council?
Serving Parsippany has been a labor of love for me. I have served six years on the Parsippany School Board and 36 years on the Parsippany Township Council, serving as President and Vice President at various times over the years. I have served for 24 years on the Planning Board and have also served on the Open Space Committee, Traffic Committee, Municipal Alliance Committee, the Day Care Center, and many others.

3.  What do you feel the biggest issue facing Parsippany today?
There are many Challenges facing Parsippany in the future. Some of those emanate from beyond our borders such as: The Court imposed Affordable Housing mandates; The New Jersey State School Funding Formula which is extremely unfair to Parsippany; New Jersey’s designation as a “Sanctuary State”; and the State’s efforts to legalize recreational marijuana. We will deal with these with the help of our Attorneys, our Planning Experts, and with the support of our Legislators.

Within our Township, we must continue to protect our quality of life issues. By a 3-2 vote, my running mates and I prevented Parsippany from becoming a “Sanctuary City” for criminal illegals. We adopted a resolution opposing recreational marijuana in New Jersey. We are opposed to having dispensaries in Parsippany because the State plans to mandate that all dispensaries also dispense recreational marijuana. We are not opposed to medical marijuana.

Costs continue to increase but our tax base remains pretty much the same. The challenge is to utilize those tax dollars that we have so that we maximize their impact on our services. We must minimize tax increases so that our residents can afford to remain here. Safety is a high priority for our school children and for our residents. We must continue to work with our School Board and our Police Department to find cost effective ways to improve safety. Volunteer Fire, Ambulance and R&R Services are essential to the health and safety of our community. We must continue to support them in any way that we can. Our Parks and Senior Services are second to none, and we must find ways to keep it that way. We must also support our Veterans.

4.  Why did you decide to run now?
I decided to run again so that I can help to address the issues that I listed in question #3 and whatever else arises.

5.  What specific skills will you bring to the table if re-elected?
Experience still matters and I offer the people of Parsippany decades of it. I am the only Parsippany Official to be inducted into the New Jersey State League of Municipalities “Elected Officials Hall of Fame”. Combined with my running mates Paul Carifi and Loretta Gragnani, we make a great team and can accomplish much if we all win.

6.  What new programs or initiatives would you like to start if re-elected?We recently initiated the Trap-Neuter-Vaccinate-and-Return program in Parsippany to address the Feral Cat problem. We are also striving to make our Shelter a “minimum kill shelter”.

Most of our traffic does not originate or terminate here, but we must continually seek improvements to our roads and traffic lights.

7.  What are you passionate about?
My number 1 passion is Family! My wife Dee, my three children, my ten grandchildren and their significant others (soon to become family) are what keeps me going. My children and grandchildren live nearby, so we are together all the time.

8.  What is the best thing about Parsippany?
Parsippany has been ranked as the number 1 place to live in New Jersey and ranked as number 17 in the nation by Money Magazine and other publications many times. This does not happen by accident. I like to think that I have been a part of the collective wisdom over the years that has made that possible.

9.  What are your hobbies/interests?
Golf is my number 2 passion for many reasons. Most of my time all week belongs to someone else. The politics, the committees, the organizations, invitations to so many activities, the family, and the honey-do lists take up all of my time … and that’s fine, I have volunteered to be active. But, come Saturday morning, I am with my friends on the golf course for five hours, away from everything else. I look forward to those five hours every week.

10. What is your professional background?
Bell Telephone Laboratories in Whippany was military R&D. Our designs were classified. The rest of my career with NJ Bell, Bell Atlantic and Verizon were all in the Engineering, Design, and Technical support areas.

While working for the State of New Jersey, I re-designed the telecommunications billing system for the State.

While in the Air Force, because of my engineering background, I became an instructor for Single Sideband Communications. Single sideband was the primary communications in Vietnam because it cannot be intercepted by the enemy. In those early years of the Vietnam War (1961-1963), all of my classes were Special Forces … Seals, Green Beret’s and NATO Special Forces.

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1.  What is your educational and volunteer background?
I grew up in New York and attended schools there. A program that is very dear to me and I would like to see continue is the Municipal Alliance Committee (MAC). This program with the cooperation of the Parsippany Police Department and the Police Athletic League (PAL) helps our young students dealing with the many day to day challenges, being it bullying, drug use, to family concerns. MAC is comprised of volunteers, and residents who have lost loved ones to drugs. I am honored to be appointed to this committee as Council Liaison. The programs presented are costly, but I believe are of great importance to the young people of our township.

2.  Why did you choose to run for council?
I have seen our township grow and prosper, become a multicultural and diverse community in the 51 years that I have lived in Parsippany. We have received an A+ rating for the quality of life that we enjoy in our township. An A+ rating is awarded with the hard work of many. Volunteers, township workers, and our Police Department all contributed to Parsippany receiving this achievement.

3.  What do you feel the biggest issue facing Parsippany today?
Taxes are a major concern of our residents. Our seniors who helped build this community after retirement would like to stay and call Parsippany home. In the past two years with the help of my fellow running mates, dePierro, and Carifi Jr. we have cut proposed township budget increases and have lowered the tax burden on our residents.

4.  Why did you decide to run now?
For many years I have been involved in the township. When our sons were students in Northvale Elementary School I served in several positions on the Parent Teacher Association, including the Presidency and as Treasurer. In the aftermath of Hurricane Irene I helped lead volunteers and citizens in a community effort to aid the residents of Lake Hiawatha. Seeing our township come together helping their neighbors inspired me then and is something I remember to this day. For our efforts we received from Governor Christie the NJ State Volunteer Award.

5.  What are you passionate about?
My husband and I have two sons, Andrew and Peter who with their families live out of state. I cherish the times we as a family are together celebrating special occasions. Being of Italian descent, food of course is always the topic of conversion before holiday dinners. My husband Adam has always given me his encouragement and is my best cheerleader. It takes teamwork and commitment to be in politics as we have learned these past years.

6.  What are your hobbies/interests?
I received the Parsippany-Troy Hills Outstanding Achievement Award and the Italian American Woman of the Year Award. I am a co-chair of Relay for Life Cancer Walk, a member of the Development Committee for the Stickley Museum at Craftsman Farms, former member of the Parsippany Board of Adjustment, and a former Trustee, Advisory Board Member, and Finance Council member for my parish St. Ann R.C. Church. My husband Adam and I are currently serving as members of the Hospitality Committee. I am the Recording Secretary and a member of the Parsippany Republican Club.

7. What is your professional background?
I was the co-owner of a successful design and construction company KBI (Kitchens Baths Interiors) in Lake Hiawatha for 29 years retiring three years ago. With other prominent business owners we formed the Lake Hiawatha Business Association providing holiday decorations on North Beverwyck Road. Volunteers and business owners to this day are continuing to provide enjoyment to the children during the holiday season.

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1. What is your educational and volunteer background?
I have a Bachelor’s of Engineering Degree in Civil Engineering from Manhattan College. I participated in the Rutgers Environmental Stewards Program and Rutgers Green Infrastructure Workshops. I currently serve on Parsippany’s Planning Board and I am the Vice Chair on the Environmental Advisory Committee. Additionally, I am on the Board of Trustees for the Parsippany Child Day Care Center. Within Glacier Hills, I am on the Neighborhood Association Civic Committee and I am a Sunday School teacher at Denville Community Church.

2. Why did you choose to run for council?
I decided to run for Town Council because I believe my election will expand and continue the positive momentum for Parsippany that we’ve seen in the last 2 years. Since then, we have made great progress in our town with initiatives such as a renewed commitment to conform with the Highlands Council and recertification with Sustainable NJ, both of which can provide our town with opportunities for grants and resources. Both of these were allowed to lapse under the previous administration. Council decisions are controlled by the council majority. The previous administration’s budget and development decisions were made without smart planning for the future and we are still paying the price.

3. What do you is feel the biggest issue facing Parsippany today?
There are two big challenges that I see facing Parsippany today. One of these challenges is the lack of civic engagement. On the local level, we all have similar goals and those goals could and should bring people together and give them a “voice”. The majority of Parsippany’s current council governs in a partisan manner which discourages residents from engaging in local politics. Another challenge for Parsippany moving into the future is meeting the pressures of development while maintaining the quality of life that we cherish in our town. This can be done by preserving our open spaces, attract businesses to existing unoccupied buildings, and engaging the community in open meetings on the Master Plan Update.

4. Why did you decide to run now?
While no one can suggest Parsippany is not developing, over the years we have been overrun by development without due consideration for the residents and resources.  In some cases it is now or never for scarce open space. Parsippany is the largest town in Morris County and we can use our resources to accomplish important things. There are opportunities to be a successful and sustainable town if we want to keep Parsippany as the “place to be”. This means attracting business and addressing local infrastructure problems with sustainable development including proactively protecting our open spaces and our natural resources.  There is also a growing awareness of the impact of humans footprint on our environment as we see the effects of long time misguided practices playing out in real time.

5. What specific skills will you bring to the table if elected?
My broad professional skills include experience in civil and environmental engineering. I have been involved for many years as an officer in local politics. Town, professional and local experience qualifies me for this office and deserving of your confidence.

6. What new programs or initiatives would you like to start if elected?
I would like to see our town participate in sustainable programs such as proven programs that can make our town more energy efficient and environmentally resilient while helping the town save tax dollars. Also, I would find ways to engage the community, especially our youth, in our town. While knocking on doors was I surprised to find good people wanting to understand how the town operates.  This summer we saw many residents energized and engaged when the Single Use Plastic Bag Ordinance was introduced. Why not utilize that enthusiasm and energy?

7. What are you passionate about?
This is a big question and I have more than one answer. My first answer is that I am passionate about the natural world, music and art.  The other part of my answer is what motivates me to be involved on the local level. I believe we all do better when we all can succeed and flourish. Like the old saying “rising waters lift all boats”, I believe I need to do my part in help making that happen.

8. What is the best thing about Parsippany?
It is a great place to live and raise a family. I moved to Parsippany 20 years ago to bring up my children in Glacier Hills. Like many neighborhoods in Parsippany it is a community that is intimate and safe. Parsippany has a fantastic school system, town recreation, historic places and parks.

9. What are your hobbies/interests?
My hobbies reflect my passions. I love to be outdoors, running, gardening, hiking, and botanical illustration. Since living in Parsippany, being involved in local government has become my biggest passion.

10. What is your professional background?
As a lead project engineer I was part of a team on major pollution control and highway & bridge projects.  Sewage treatment and roadway maintenance are major functions of the town. In addition to leadership, organization and communication, my success depended on bringing together groups with different and often competing agendas; I was successful. I was also responsible for contract preparation, construction oversight and funding applications, experience needed by Town Council members in their day-to-day responsibilities.

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