Parsippany mayor backs Mastrangelo, Webber, DeCroce

Parsippany Mayor Jamie Barberio has endorsed Tom Mastrangelo for State Senate in the 26th district.

Mastrangelo, a Morris County commissioner, is challenging five-term State Sen. Joseph Pennacchio (R-Montville) in Tuesday’s Republican primary.

Four members of the Parsippany Township Council have also endorsed Mastrangelo: Mike DePierro, Loretta Gragnani, Frank Neglia, and Paul Cairfi.

“Tom has been responsive to Parsippany’s needs and has a great record on protecting our taxpayers. Tom has kept his promises in delivering 7 years of no tax increases, speaking out against the woke agenda, and fighting the Murphy illegal immigration plan,” Barberio and the council members said.

Barberio’s support of Mastrangelo has been no secret – he’s appeared in direct mail pieces and has privately been pushing the campaign for weeks – but his announcement today is the first official show of support in what has become a bitter race for a safe Republican State Senate seat.

Later in the day, Barberio also endorsed former Assemblywoman BettyLou DeCroce (R-Parsippany), who is challenging incumbents Jay Webber (R-Morris Plains) and Brian Bergen (R-Denville) in a bid to reclaim the seat she lost two years ago

“She is a member of our community; she knows our people and our issues; she has served the town in various ways, and I know that, if she is elected to the Assembly again, we will have a friend in Trenton who we can count on to help us in meaningful ways,” said Barberio.

The Parsippany mayor had previously endorsed Webber; a mailer featuring that endorsement was sent out weeks ago.