Valori to Ask Attorney General to Probe Job Offer Allegations

Townshio Council candidate Dr. Louis Valori says he'll next tell his story to the New Jersey Attorney General's Office.

In a statement released Wednesday morning, Valori said he is calling on the attorney general's Division of Criminal Justice and State Police Official Corruption Unit to conduct a full and comprehensive investigation into what he called "official misconduct by Mayor (James) Barberio and conspiracy by Councilman Brian Stanton and members of the mayor’s administration."

Specifically, he is making a formal accusation against Barberio and Stanton for "offering a municipal job in exchange for me not running as a council candidate in the 2013 municipal election.

"I stand by my previous statements confirming Brian Stanton approached me unsolicited and told me the mayor did not want me to run in the 2013 municipal election as a council candidate," Valori stated. "Stanton further instructed me to meet with him, Mayor Barberio and Township Attorney John Inglesino on Jan. 13, 2013, at 8 p.m. at Parsippany Town Hall."

He reiterated that during the meeting, Barberio, Stanton and Inglesino told him that an employment agreement for the job of director of community relations would be drafted for Valori and that the position, which paid $50,000 per year, would be at-will and demanded “loyalty” position to the mayor.

Valori said the mayor, who lashed out in the press against Valori's initial statements on the matter and told the Daily Record that he'd never offered Valori a job, is not being truthful or transparent in his reactions.

"These statements by the mayor are knowingly false and compromise the office of mayor and deceive the citizens of Parsippany who deserve the truth," Valori said.

Stanton revealed at Tuesday's council meeting that the Jan. 13 meeting did take place and that the creation of a job was discussed, but he told Patch no bribe or political quid pro quo occurred.

Barberio has not responded to Patch's questions regarding the accusations.

According to Peter Aseltine, an attorney general's office spokesperson, Valori's request for a probe has not yet been received.

The press representative told Patch that his office usually does not comment on the status of investigations or on whether they are underway. But Aseltine said that since Valori went public with his call for a probe, he would be willing to speak if and when Valori's request appears.

Valori is running for council on the ticket of mayoral challenger Councilman Paul Carifi Jr.