Council Candidate Janice McCarthy: Town Needs Checks and Balances

Janice McCarthy says Parsippany government is hamstrung by a rubber-stamp mentality and needs a shake-up.

"The current makeup of the Town Council and mayor’s office does not provide necessary checks and balances to ensure all constituents have a voice," she said. "Consistently having the same or like-minded individuals holding town government positions for so long denies substantive challenges and debate that creates a path to efficient and effective government."

McCarthy, a Democrat, is part of the Vote for Parsippany ticket that seeks to loosen the grip of what it sees as a Republican stranglehold on government. 

The married township resident of 24 years' standing is a financial professional who's managed and directed Fortune 500 companies. After a career in corporate management, she helped lead budget and planning functions for Montclair State University. McCarthy also served on the Board of Trustees for a local homeowners' association. She touts her business savvy as something the council sorely needs.
Another quality she finds lacking in the body is true transparency.

"Transparency creates an environment that supports the best practices that more effectively and efficiently serve the community—not just the interests of a few," she said. "One of the most critical issues facing Parsippany is the lack of transparency in our municipal government."

McCarthy said the township needs a comprehensive master plan and tangible action. 

"Currently the Mayor has sole responsibility for economic development.  The economic development advisory committee has not been established as promised two years ago," she noted. "A priority is to establish the committee to develop a plan that focuses on bringing business to Parsippany to help increase the revenue base. 

"Meeting future challenges requires the efficient use of limited resources and electing a diverse non- partisan government," McCarthy continued. "The future requires detailed, comprehensive plans, not broad assertions like those made in support of the current year’s budget. It requires analysis of surpluses, a study of the above-average health care claims Parsippany is experiencing and substantiating the potential source of revenue from the new sewer treatment plant."  

McCarthy said implementing strategies that improve revenue and reduce expenses would translate into a more effective use of available funds that benefit the entire town.

If elected, McCarthy said she intends to implement the Economic Development Advisory Committee, to create a thorough analysis of the sewer surplus and substantiated projection of revenue potential from upgraded sewer treatment plant, to work aggressively work with neighboring towns on shared services and assure fiscal accountability to residents of Parsippany.

"I have the interest and drive to improve the community," she said, plus "the financial background to address the economic challenges that Parsippany will face going forward."