Former Parsippany Mayor James “Jamie” Barberio says he has not endorsed Morris County Commissioner Tom Mastrangelo for State Assembly, despite being included on a list of endorsements released by Mastrangelo’s campaign today.
“I’ve never even spoken to Tom about this,” Barberio told the New Jersey Globe. “I haven’t endorsed him.”
Barberio was among more than 20 current, incoming, and former municipal officials listed in a press release Mastrangelo’s campaign sent to the New Jersey Globe, announcing a growing roster of supporters for his bid for an open Assembly seat in New Jersey’s 26th legislative district.
The campaign specifically identified Barberio as one of five current, incoming or former mayors backing Mastrangelo.
Mastrangelo entered this year’s Assembly race after six-term State Sen. Joseph Pennacchio (R-Montville) announced his retirement, setting off a scramble for seats in the Republican-leaning district.
Assemblyman Jay Webber (R-Morris Plains) quickly emerged as the leading candidate for Pennacchio’s Senate seat after Assembly Minority Whip Brian Bergen (R-Denville) said he would not seek the Senate nomination.
That left Webber’s Assembly seat open, with Mastrangelo among a large field of potential contenders.
In addition to Barberio, Mastrangelo’s campaign claimed endorsements from Riverdale Mayor Paul Carelli, Lincoln Park Mayor David Runfeldt, Pequannock Mayor Kyle Russell, and incoming Pequannock Mayor Vincent Siracusa.
“I am truly honored and humbled by the tremendous support from so many local elected officials in such a short period of time,” said Mastrangelo. “These leaders understand the challenges facing our communities and the importance of fiscal responsibility, keeping taxes under control, and ensuring government remains accountable to the people.”
The campaign’s endorsement list also includes Florham Park Councilmembers Nicholas Cicarelli, Kristen Santoro, and Joshua Marchal; Lincoln Park Council President Joseph Gurkovich and Councilmembers Ann Thompson, Daniel Moeller, Andrew Seise, and Gary Gemian; Parsippany Councilmen Paul Carifi and Matthew McGrath; and Pequannock Deputy Mayor Melissa Florance-Lynch.
In Riverdale, Mastrangelo claimed the backing of the entire six-member Borough Council: Council President Vincent Pellegrini and Councilmen Mike Kheyfets, Paul Purcell, Matt Oswald, Stephen Revis, and Dave Desai.
His campaign also listed Ron Francioli of Hanover and East Hanover Board of Education member Vincent Ucci.
One of the officials on Mastrangelo’s list, Florance-Lynch, lost her bid for re-election to the Pequannock Township Council last week. She finished fifth in a five-candidate race for three seats.
“The support we’re receiving from municipal leaders throughout the district is greatly appreciated. I look forward to working with them to bring common sense, fiscal discipline, and accountability to Trenton,” Mastrangelo said.
It is not the first time that Mastrangelo has been involved in a controversy over endorsements or campaign materials that suggested support he did not have.
In January 2019, Mastrangelo and his running mates, Morris County Freeholders Doug Cabana and Kathy DeFilippo, released an endorsement list that included Washington Township Councilman Gregg Forsbrey.
Forsbrey subsequently told the New Jersey Globe that while he supported Mastrangelo and Cabana, he was not endorsing DeFilippo. Instead, he was backing challenger Donald Dinsmore.
Florham Park Councilman Charles Germershausen and former Morris Township Deputy Mayor Matheu Nunn were also caught up in competing endorsement announcements during that campaign. Both acknowledged supporting Mastrangelo, although their positions on other candidates were more complicated.
Four years later, during Mastrangelo’s unsuccessful 2023 Republican State Senate primary against Pennacchio, the National Rifle Association accused him of misleading voters by distributing orange postcards that resembled the organization’s official endorsement mailings.
The postcards accurately listed Mastrangelo’s NRA rating as AQ and did not explicitly claim an endorsement. But the NRA objected to their resemblance to its own campaign mailers and publicly clarified that Pennacchio was the only NRA-endorsed candidate in the race.
In March 2023, Florham Park Mayor Mark Taylor served as master of ceremonies at a Mastrangelo fundraiser featuring former New York Giants defensive tackle Christian Peter, who had a history of violence against women. Another former Giant, Luke Petitgout, who had also faced criminal charges involving violence against women, was advertised as a guest but did not attend.
Taylor subsequently told the New Jersey Globe that he knew nothing about the players’ histories and would “absolutely not” have attended had he known.
Essex County Commissioner Leonard Luciano, a Democrat who attended the event, said he received a complimentary ticket and had no idea it was a fundraiser for Mastrangelo’s State Senate campaign.
“I didn’t know that the event was a fundraiser for the Senate. If I knew, I wouldn’t have been there. I was given a comp ticket,” Luciano said.
He said he was “disgusted to learn that this was something more than his annual commissioner event.”
Six weeks later, Taylor endorsed Mastrangelo’s opponent, Pennacchio, along with Webber and Bergen. The three lawmakers reciprocated by endorsing Taylor in his own contested Republican mayoral primary.
Taylor, among the Republicans mentioned as potential candidates for Webber’s open Assembly seat in 2027, could also face a challenge at home. Santoro is reportedly considering a bid against Taylor in next year’s Republican mayoral primary.
Mastrangelo said his campaign will announce additional endorsements in the coming days.
Editor’s Note: The New Jersey Globe takes candidates at their word when they release endorsement lists, but will immediately update readers if an endorsement is denied. This story replaces an earlier version. Click HERE to read the original story.