Florham Park mayor backs GOP incumbents in 26th district

A Republican mayor from Morris County is taking sides in the 26th district Republican primary after seemingly flirting with another candidate.

Florham Park Mayor Mark Taylor, who attended a fundraiser for Tom Mastrangelo in March, has endorsed State Sen. Joseph Pennacchio (R-Montville) for re-election, along with Assemblymen Jay Webber (R-Morris Plains) and Brian Bergen (R-Denville).

“Joe, Jay, and Brian are the leaders that we need,” Taylor said.  “They are recognized as the most conservative legislators in the state, and they will always fight to stop the radical woke agenda that is being forced on us by Trenton.”

Pennacchio faces Mastrangelo, a Morris County commissioner, in the June 6 GOP Senate primary.   Former Assemblywoman BettyLou DeCroce (R-Parsippany) and former Parsippany Councilman Robert Peluso are challenging Webber and Bergen.

Charles Malone, Jr, a Florham Park councilman, has also endorsed Pennacchio, Webber, and Bergen.

In turn, the three lawmakers endorsed Taylor and Malone for re-election.  Taylor faces Councilman Charles Germershausen in the Republican mayoral primary; running with Taylor, Malone faces two other council candidates on Germershausen’s slate, Glen Johnstone and Doreen Cali.

“Mayor Taylor and Councilman Malone are tireless advocates for the people of Florham Park, and we could not be happier to be running mates with them this year,” Pennacchio, Webber and Bergen said.  “We share their dedication and commitment to the people of Florham Park.”

Taylor had been the master of ceremonies at a Mastrangelo fundraiser on March 21 that featured a former New York Giants football player with a history of violence against women.  Taylor later said he would not have attended if he knew the history of two players on the invitation.

Germershausen is giving up his council seat to run for mayor.

Taylor and Malone appear on the ballot on the organization line in Column 2 with Pennacchio, Webber and Bergen, while Germershausen, Johnstone and Cali are in Column 3.  Mastrangelo and his slate are in Column 1.