Council Candidate Paul Carifi Jr.: Not Pointing Fingers

Paul Carifi Jr. says he has always had a sense of what's right and what's wrong. It is that sense that he says led him into the field of law enforcement, into working for Republican organizations, and into his present candidacy for a four-year seat on the Parsippany Township Council.

In the June 7 primary election, Carifi faces a huge challenge—unseating one of the council's incumbents. Council President John Fox, Vice President Michael dePierro and member Brian Stanton are running for re-election together on the Team Parsippany ticket. Beating any one of them is a tall order, but the challenger said he has something the sitting council members do not.

"I am a fresh face with new ideas," Carifi said.

He is not exactly a novice when it comes to serving the township.

First of all, Carifi knows Parsippany, having lived here for 37 years. He was educated in Parsippany's public school system. After earning a bachelor's degree in sociology and criminal justice from East Stroudsburg University, he attended the Morris County Police Academy. In 1988, he became a Morris County Sheriff's officer. Presently, he is a sergeant in the Protective Services Division.

"Throughout my career, I have held many leadership positions, such as commander of the Sheriff's Emergency Response Team and head physical training instructor at the Morris County Public Safety Training Academy," he said. "I'm also a graduate of the State Certified Public Manager Program."

The father of twin 3-year-old boys, Carifi has demonstrated an interest in politics as well. He calls himself a "proud member" of the Parsippany Republican Club and now serves on the township's Republican Municipal Committee.

Carifi said he isn't interested in pointing fingers at his opponents or at anyone else—he wants to find solutions to the challenges that face Parsippany.

"I believe we can meet the challenges by being more creative and coming up with new ideas on how to raise revenue for the town," he said. 

On the issue of coping with rising cost of health benefits for those who work for the municipality, Carifi suggested dialogue could help.

"We need to work with our town employees and come to a compromise," he said. "They know the economic situation, and those I've talked to are more than willing to sit down and work things out."

If elected, Carifi said he will promote Parsippany to attract new businesses and generate more commercial tax revenue. Other goals he shared include seeking $1.25 in value for every tax dollar spent, increasing shared services, re-establishing Parsippany animal control as a "humane, no-kill shelter," boosting traffic enforcement and enforcing town ordinances to prevent overcrowding and high-rise development.

Carifi also said making government answerable to the citizens is a priority.

"I want to establish a community outreach program where township services will be held accountable," he said. "Government should be accessible to all the residents. The people of Parsippany should be able to see how their money is being spent.

"I will listen to the residents of Parsippany," he added. " I will not ignore them."