Tuesday, November 20, 2012
Jonathan Nelson said local government isn't the solution to Parsippany's problems, its citizens working together is.
Jonathan Nelson is the Parsippany Town Council's newest member. The 44-year-old Democrat, the first from his party to be elected to the council in nearly three decades, was sworn in during a brief ceremony at the start of the council's Tuesday night meeting. "As a Democrat, I feel like I'm facing a firing squad," joked state Sen. and former Gov. Richard Codey, as he prepared to administer the oath of office to Nelson. Then he offered the new councilman a piece of advice. "Your job is to be a watchdog," Codey said. "But nobody likes a dog that barks all night. Work with them when they're right, but speak up when they are wrong." With that, the oath was read and repeated, and an enthusiastic round of applause filled Council Chambers. Then …
Wednesday, November 7, 2012
GOP nominee Judy Tiedemann blames her loss to Democrat Jonathan Nelson on 'bad Republicans.'
The day after the 2012 general election in Parsippany, both political parties face new realities in the wake of Democrat Jonathan Nelson's victory over Republican Judy Tiedemann for the Township Council seat now held by James Vigilante. For the Democrats, who see the first council member from their party in nearly 30 years, it's a time of joy. "Wow," said Nelson, admitting that he was "speechless." "I just want to thank everyone who worked really hard and long, long hours to help me in winning this," he told supporters at the Parsippany Elks Club. "I've said all along that I thought we could win this, but it wasn't until we did that we could prove it." "We want to go further and forward into the future," he said, promising to serve all of …
Monday, November 5, 2012
Get to know your candidates and cast an informed vote Nov. 6.
Democrat Jonathan Nelson, who is running to fill the one-year unexpired term Township Council seat, knows he is the underdog in this race. He's a Democrat, the Republican Party has a firm, exclusive grip on every elected position in town that it intends to keep, and he's running against an opponent backed by GOP Mayor James Barberio. Nelson told Patch that he is determined to win to give representation to all Parsippany residents, even those who at present have no voice in their government. And not even a superstorm will deter him, he said. "For the past three days we have sent out nearly 100 volunteers to inform people whose polling districts had changed due to Sandy," he said. "We are still canvassing homes and apartments and will …
Friday, October 26, 2012
The Democratic and Republican rivals have taken their campaigns online.
If you're looking for information on the Parsippany residents running for Town Council in the Nov. 6 general election, it's just a click away. Democrat Jonathan Nelson and Republican Judy Tiedemann have established official online presences on Facebook. Nelson, who has received endorsements from former Mayor Mimi Letts and state Sen. and former Gov. Richard Codey, also has a stand-alone website of his own for his campaign at nelsonforcouncil.com. A search of several search engines did not reveal a site for the Republican hopeful, who is supported by Mayor James Barberio, state Sen. Joe Pennacchio and Asw. Betty Lou DeCroce and, according to her Facebook page, other GOP officials. Both candidates have agreed to face off at the Patch 2012 …
Monday, October 22, 2012
Have something to say? Send your Letter to the Editor to natalie.davis@patch.com.
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Monday, October 22, 2012
I am voting for Jonathan Nelson, Parsippany Council candidate. I have known Jonathan for seven years and during this time he has exhibited a true caring for Parsippany. He will represent all the people of Parsippany. Given his knowledge, experience, and future visions for Parsippany, the decision was not difficult. Jonathan has an excellent grasp of the issues and problems facing our township because he has attended Town Council, Zoning Board of Adjustment and Board of Education meetings on a regular basis. Jonathan has publicly addressed the council and mayor at council meetings with good preparation and suggestions. Jonathan Nelson will not disappoint his constituents. Vote Nov. 6, 2012. Roy Messmer Parsippany
Tuesday, September 11, 2012
Jonathan Nelson, a council candidate, suggests adding line that excempts children under 2 from anti-stacking ordinance.
The occupancy law controversy reared its head again at Tuesday's Township Council agenda meeting at the municipal building. Parsippany resident Jonathan Nelson, who is running for council in the November election, presented the governing body with a suggestion that, if taken seriously and adopted, could help families who run afoul of the ordinance. "Instead of taking a sledgehammer approach and creating waivers, as was tried last month, why can’t the council just amend the ordinance to exclude a child under a certain age?" he asked, suggesting that children 2 and under be exempt from the law (the age of 2, the benchmark used in the state occupancy law, was used merely as a nonspecific example). "We’re talking about adding one sentence to …
Sunday, August 19, 2012
The township's other political party meets for a picnic at a historic site.
Parsippany Democrats braved threateningly gray skies to come together for an anything but gloomy summer picnic Sunday afternoon at the historic Livingston-Benedict House on Old Parsippany Road. The annual event was organized by the township's Democratic Party. While the sun did not make more than a cursory appearance during the event, no rain fell at all, so spirits at the picnic remained high. The gathering, a laughter-filled potluck affair featuring burgers and dogs along with vegetarian and vegan fare, mostly was about fun and socializing. Conversations revolved around the Par-Troy East All-Stars, who are competing in the 2012 Little League World Series, township news, art appreciation and the history surrounding the Livingston-Benedict…
Monday, July 30, 2012
County Democratic chairman rouses the local party faithful.
The Parsippany Democratic Party visible at its Wednesday meeting at the Parsippany Free Public Library was an apparently revitalized one. Gone was the dispirited group resigned to accepting a position allowing them little to no voice in their town's affairs, one bruised after experiencing failure in election after election against a Republican Party that revels in almost complete control over municipal government. Nominating Jonathan Nelson as its candidate for the special Town Council election to be held in November, local Democrats showed a rare enthusiasm—and growing confidence. That ebullience was reflected in an address Morris County Democratic Committee Chairman Lewis Candura made at the gathering. "Morris County is changing," …
Wednesday, July 25, 2012
Candidate came out swinging against an administration he says has made the township "the laughingstock of Morris County."
Only weeks ago, Parsippany businessman Jonathan Nelson announced his bid to fill Freeholder John Cesaro's unexpired Town Council seat. Now, it's official: At its Wednesday meeting at the Parsippany Free Public Library's main branch, the township's Democratic Municipal Committee nominated the Par-Troy native by acclimation to represent the party in the Nov. 6 special election. "I wasn't expecting a council race this November," Nelson, 44, said in a brief address before party members. "When word came down about a month ago, I, like everyone in town, thought Jimmy Vigilante would have the seat" until the end of 2013. Township Attorney John Inglesino, after Vigilante's appointment to Cesaro's seat, issued a statement explaining that because …
Thursday, July 12, 2012
The township's lawyer says there are many steps that must be taken to participate in the special council election coming in November.
Questions continue to swirl in the township over what took many by surprise: that the Township Council seat just filled by appointee James Vigilante is up for municipal election in the fall. Though he addressed some questions last week, Town Attorney John Inglesino told Patch that given the number of people still asking him for clarification, he pursued more research to ensure that those charged with nominating candidates to fill the seat between November of this year and its expiration date, December 2013—and anyone interested in launching a run—are fully and accurately informed well before the election's filing dates. Inglesino offered his answers in the form of a memorandum addressed to Nicole C. Green and Michael Soriano, the …
Dan Grant
1:45 pm on Sunday, November 25, 2012
A hearty congratulations to Mr. Nelson, Politically he has done what no other Democrat has done in a very long time. As a fellow Democrat from a neighboring town I can tell him that being a lone Democrat on an otherwise all Republican body has it's rewards. Truth be told most of the issues faced at the local level are not partisan at all. I am sure he already knows that. It is more about public … more ›