Crawford Throws in the Towel

The Town Council candidacy of Robert Crawford is over.

Crawford, who hoped to take over the two-year unexpired council seat, announced the end of his campaign Monday morning.

"I will not be challenging the opinion rendered by the town attorney's that stated that I cannot run as a Democrat for a seat on the Town Council in the general election in November," he told Patch. "The law appears to be clear with regard to this matter and so it must be respected and adhered to."

Crawford challenged incumbent Vincent Ferrara for the seat in the June 7 Republican primary, losing by a little more than 200 votes. Enough Democratic voters wrote in his name, earning him a position as the Democratic Party nominee for the unexpired term seat. However, Township Attorney John Inglesino announced on June 14 that New Jersey's so-called "sore loser" law prohibits anyone from running for a municipal office in a primary election and then running for that same office as a member of different party in the general election.

After a few weeks of study and consideration, Crawford determined that he had no standing to contest or circumvent the law.

The former candidate considered another path as well.

"At the urging of many supporters I gave serious consideration to running as a write-in candidate but I simply  do not have the financial resources to launch a viable write-in campaign," he explained.  

This means that Vincent Ferrara will have no official challenge to the seat during the Nov. 8 general election.

Last year, Ferrara was chosen from three names supplied by the Republican Municipal Committee for the seat that once belonged to Morris County Freeholder Ann Grossi.

"I do want to thank the many voters who supported me in the recent primary," said Crawford. "I urge them to continue the fight to ensure that our elected representatives are qualified and committed to serving the best interests of all  of Parsippany's residents."