Township Attorney Says Crawford Democratic Candidacy Denied

During Tuesday night's still-continuing Town Council meeting, Municipal Attorney John Inglesino announced that Robert Crawford's attempt to win the unexpired two-year seat on the council is over.

Though Crawford lost to incumbent council member Vincent Ferrara in the Republican primary election last week, he earned 44 Democratic write-in votes. The Morris County clerk's office said 39 votes were needed to secure the Democratic nomination and face Ferrara in the general, and Crawford exceeded the amount needed.

The Parsippany Democratic Committee invited Crawford to continue his quest for the seat once held by Freeholder Ann Grossi as a member of the Democratic Party.

After a few days of thought, Crawford agreed and made the decision to switch parties and become a member of the Vote for Parsippany ticket. That slate consists of Democratic Town Council candidates Annelise Catanzaro, Janice McCarthy and Tom Wyka.

All three members of the Vote for Parsippany team told Patch that they welcomed Crawford on their ticket.

It all ended up being for naught as Inglesino said he looked into the matter and discovered that New Jersey law prohibits a candidate from appearing on the primary election ballot for a municipal post under one party and running for that same post under a different party during the general election.

"The corrected certification has been accepted by the county clerk," Inglesino announced.

The council meeting continues and the story is developing. 

Stay tuned to Patch for further details and reaction.