Meet the Township Council Candidates

The general election is Tuesday. To help voters get to know those running for Township Council better prior to casting their ballot, Patch presents a look at the candidates for the council seats: Incumbent Republicans Paul Carifi Jr., Michael dePierro, Vincent Ferrara and Brian Stanton and Democratic challengers Annelise Catanzaro, Janice McCarthy and Tom Wyka.

Patch asked each candidate to fill out the questionaire below. Here are the replies of those who responded by the deadline.

Paul Carifi Jr. (R)

Age: 45

Occupation: Sergeant with the Morris County Sheriff's Office

Previous elected or appointed positions: Councilman, Republican Committeeman

Any other current elected or appointed positions:  Still Serving as Councilman and as Republican Committeeman

Other community associations: Republican Committee, Republican Club, Sons of Italy

Length of residence in Parsippany: 37 years

Most pressing issues for this candidate in a coming term, and how they would be addressed: Lowering Taxes while still maintaining our services. Ways we can do this is by generating more commercial revenue for the town by bringing business back to Parsippany. Also by adding more shared services with neighboring communities.

What's one fact about you that most voters probably don't know? I managed and played for a three-time National Champion Mens Softball Tournament Team.

Annelise Catanzaro (D)

Age:  27

Occupation: Director of Business Development, Vertical Health

Previous elected or appointed positions: President, Morris County NOW; Executive President, The College of New Jersey Student Government; One of only two students elected to The College of New Jersey's Board of Trustees; Junior and Senior Class President, Parsippany Hills High School (our reunion is next year everyone!); Queen of Mount Tabor Children's Day 

Any other current elected or appointed positions:  Chairperson, Parsippany Municipal Alliance Committee; Member, Economic Development Committee (created in Oct. 2009; has not yet been called to order by the mayor)

Other community associations:  Member of Women's Political Caucus of New Jersey; Rotary Outstanding Young Person of the Year, 2009

Length of residence in Parsippany: 27 years

Most pressing issues for this candidate in a coming term, and how they would be addressed:  The most pressing issue facing Parsippany’s residents is ever-increasing property taxes, especially for residents who are among the more than 9 percent currently unemployed in New Jersey or for seniors on a fixed income.  The burden of property taxes can drive people to the heartbreaking decision to move out of Parsippany--oftentimes away from their family and friends.  Our mayor and council should be doing whatever possible to prevent our residents from being forced to make this type of choice. I would tackle this challenge by not only providing an unbiased voice on the council and speaking out against partisan, costly decisions like the council’s choice of the most expensive liability insurance provider in 2008, but I would also make it a point to meet regularly with other leaders from across the state and the U.S. to uncover new ways to make our community more efficient and identify new potential sources of revenue. Another pressing issue facing Parsippany is our current leadership's inability to look beyond their inner circle for answers to our unprecedented challenges.  I am acutely aware that I don’t have all the answers, but am also excited to look beyond myself to other leaders, neighbors, experts to better understand a problem and uncover new solutions.  If you only rely on a small group of individuals, you will come up with a shortsighted or careless decision.  The mayor’s decision to spend $22,000 annually on a website points to a clear lack of knowledge about the market norms and the availability of other options.  It wasted precious tax dollars and could have been avoided.  Making decisions in a vacuum is not the way to approach today’s complex challenges.

What's one fact about you that most voters probably don't know?  I lived and worked in Italy for a year with my sister.  Many in my father's family are still in Italy and the year abroad gave me an opportunity to learn to speak the language, travel and spend time with my Italian relatives.  

Michael dePierro (R)

Age: 72

Occupation: Retired as Systems Manager from the Bell System after 30 years of service.  Retired as Manager of Telecommunications Billing from the State of New Jersey. Veteran from the Vietnam Era, 1961-1963.

Previous elected or appointed positions: Parsippany Board of Education, 1975-1981 (Chairman-Policy and Management Committees); Morris County School Boards Association, 1977-1981 (Vice President and Executive Board); New Jersey School Boards Association, 1978-1979; Morris County League of Municipalities, 1985-1997 (President and Executive Board); Parsippany Area Chamber of Commerce, 1988-2008 (Charter Member, Board of Directors, Township Council Liaison); Parsippany Municipal Alliance Committee, 1977-1997 (Co-Founder, first President, Township Council Liaison); Morris County Transportation Coordinating Committee, 1985-1988

Any other current Elected or Appointed positions: Parsippany Township Council, 1982-1997, and 2000-Present (President and Vice President at various times during the past 28 years); Parsippany Planning Board, 1995-Present; Parsippany Open Space Committee, 2000-Present; Knoll Country Club Advisory Committee, 1982-1997, and 2000-Present; Township Liaison to Craftsman Farms Foundation, 2010-Present

Other community associations: Parsippany Spot Light, 1996-1997 (Producer and emcee of a 30-minute weekly cable television show highlighting the positive and upbeat happenings in Parsippany Township); Parsippany Rotary Club, 1974-Present (President, 1978-1979 & 1993-1994; Director 1975-1994); District Governor’sAide 1982-1985;  Fairleigh Dickenson University Alumni Association, 1970-Present; Boy Scout Troop 215, 1970-1975; Committee Chairman at Rockaway Meadow School; Parsippany UNICO, 1978-1993 (Charter Member; Board of Directors; Scholarship Committee Chairman); United States Olympic Committee, 1980-1992 (New Jersey State Committee Member, Chairman of Club Services); United Way of Morris County, 1981-1987 (Parsippany Fundraising Coordinator – Special Gifts); Institute of Electrical and Electronic Engineers, 1960-1990; Life Member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) Post #10184 and American Legion Post #249.

Length of Residence in Parsippany: 46 years

Most pressing issues for this candidate in a coming term, and how they would be addressed: Local property taxes are the biggest issue. The Mayor and Council are responsible  for the municipal budget which accounts for approximately 24 percent of our tax base. We are addressing this by seeking new sources of revenue and reducing operating expenses. One example of seeking a new revenue source would be our contract with Synagro. 

What’s one fact about you that most voters probably don’t know? My life has been an open book. There is very little that the voters don’t knowabout me.

Vincent Ferrara (R)

Did not submit responses by the deadline.

Janice McCarthy (D)

Age: 61

Occupation: Financial Professional

Previous elected or appointed positions: Democratic Committee, Trustee Homeowners Association

Any other current elected or appointed positions: Budget Committee, Montclair StateUniversity, Freshmen Mentoring Program, Montclair State University

Other community associations: None given

Length of residence in Parsippany: 24 years

Most pressing issues for this candidate in a coming term, and how they would be addressed: As the state continues to cut funding it pushes more and more financial responsibility downto the municipalities, Parsippany like all other New Jersey municipalities, in order to maintainthe quality of life for its residents needs to find solutions to meet those economic challenges.The governors' tool kit involves pension and benefit reforms that require municipalitiesnegotiate the best possible agreements to maintain the quality of services and staff. Theanswers won’t be found in politics of the past. They won’t be found in the closed decision making environment that we have now. Elected representatives need to be willing to develop ideas from a broader constituency and utilize the wealth of intellectual resources available in the community to help address these challenges. While there is a lot of talk from the Town Council about business development to lower the tax base, a serious development strategy requires expertise, and that requires bringing together business and economic professionals to create a strategy to realize development goals. The same is true of shared services, which have been promised for years, yet there has been minimal success. What benefit shared services will provide requires a cost assessment and determination of which services provide the greatest return and then working on those services for consensus with other municipalities. Another area is health care. According to the mayor, the town’s employee health care costs exceed accepted loss claim ratios by about 30 percent. In order to control costs, it needs to be determined what type of claims are driving increases, then seek recommendations on how to control those costs. In addition, initiate a cost-benefit analysis to quantify the amount ofsavings the town has realized from hiring a wellness coach at $70,000 a year. Finally, develop a master plan for grants management based on current municipal needs and put a priority on seeking out grant funding that is available to help offset costs.

What's one fact about you that most voters probably don't know? Competed in track and field.

Brian Stanton (R)

Age: 39 

Occupation:  Detective in the legal services/ warrants division for the Morris County Sheriff’s Office

Previous elected or appointed positions: Former PBA 151 Treasurer, Vice President, Executive Vice President, and President

 Any other current elected or appointed positions:  Current Vice President on the Parsippany Town Council. Liaison to the Fire Prevention Bureau, Municipal Alliance Committee, Parsippany Day Care Center, Police Athletic League, and the Board of Education.

Other community associations: Member, Sons of Italy, Italian American Police Society of New Jersey, Elks of Parsippany, PTA’s for Rockaway Meadow and Central Middle School, Republican Club, and Parsippany Township Committee.

Length of residence in Parsippany: Over 39 years

Most pressing issues for this candidate in a coming term, and how they would be addressed: Without a doubt the most pressing issue facing our community right now is planning ahead for stable taxes while maintaining our current level of important services. This issue can be addresses by controlled spending, increasing revenue through strategic planning, the creation of a business-friendly economic climate, and increasing our shared services.  As your Town Council, we have already begun planning for the future.  For example, we know that the reinvigoration of the incinerator (a plant that has been non operational for years) will generate an additional $18 million dollars of revenue for our community.   Our upgrading of our water treatment center will save us 60-75 percent on electricity costs. And our shared services with East Hanover and Hanover Township for our Health Officer and Animal Control Officer will help keep our costs lower.   Another issue that is dear to my heart is the destruction of lower Lake Hiawatha and other areas due to Hurricane Irene. We must continue to come together to take care of our community and protect those that have lost so much.  

What's one fact about you that most voters probably don't know? One fact that most voters don’t know is that while growing up my dream was to become a math teacher and a high school baseball coach. And throughout my 39-plus years my dream has never changed.

Tom Wyka (D)

Age: 45

Occupation: Information Technology (Web) Project Manager

Previous elected or appointed positions:   Transparency Committee (permitted to attend one meeting over a year after appointment, because of incumbent failure to seat the committee - then removed via retroactive ordinance change)

Any other current elected or appointed positions:  Vice President - New Jersey Foundation for Open Government,  Mentor with Citizens' Campaign,  Parsippany Economic Development Advisory Committee (still not convened by Mayor after 2 years)

Other community associations:  PAL Football coach, Previous Cub Scout Den Leader and Assistant Pack Leader (Pack 177), Finance Committee, St. Christopher's Church, Kiwanis member

Length of residence in Parsippany: 18

Most pressing issues for this candidate in a coming term, and how they would be addressed:   Breaking the "rubber stamp" culture of the current council, in order to bring oversight toward spending and policy decisions that is sorely lacking now.  Exploring new ways to deliver services more efficiently through shared services.   Creating a more open environment at Town Hall to keep citizens informed.

What's one fact about you that most voters probably don't know?   I have a deep abiding faith that government can work when populated by those who take the job seriously rather than regard it as "club membership."  I believe in politics as a lifelong pursuit to help improve the communities we live in and I work toward helping others realize what options are available to participate in that process.