Seeking to avoid a divisive primary that could spill over into the general election, Morris County GOP Chair Laura Marie Ali is seeking a unity ticket in Parsippany where Mayor Jamie Barberio and Councilman Justin Musella run together.
Musella, 33, has announced plans to challenge the 65-year-old Barberio in the Republican primary.
“Such a unified ticket would not only consolidate our party’s resources and energy but also send a powerful message of solidarity to voters,” Ali said in an email to key party leaders and candidates obtained by the New Jersey Globe.
She has called a meeting with the candidates and the Morris Republican executive board for Sunday afternoon.
“I will not be attending the meeting,” said Musella. “There’s nothing more to discuss.”
Also on the ticket would be Councilman Frank Neglia, a Barberio ally.
“Mayor Barberio brings to the table the experience and track record that Parsippany needs to continue forward momentum. Councilmen Musella and Neglia bring perspectives and demonstrated commitment to our community’s prosperity,” stated Ali. “Together, their collective leadership offers a well-rounded and formidable team that will stand out in the eyes of voters across the political spectrum. This ticket will have the full, unwavering support of the Morris County Republican Party.”
Parsippany, the largest municipality in Morris County, was once a Republican stronghold but has become a swing town in recent elections.
In 2024, Kamala Harris won Parsippany by 161 votes against Donald Trump. U.S. Senator Andy Kim won it by 942 votes, and Rep. Mikie Sherrill (D-Montclair) took the township by 2,307 votes.
“An extended primary battle between our own loyal Republicans presents a gigantic risk. It will weaken our momentum and paint a picture of division that the opposing party will undoubtedly exploit,” Ali stated. “We cannot afford to be divided. By aligning behind a unity ticket now, we would position ourselves to focus wholly on defeating the Democrats in the general election.”
Musella was elected to the council in 2021, with Ali’s backing, after local Republicans split their ticket in a contested – and divisive – primary.
After losing his seat to Democrat Michael Soriano in 2017, Barberio sought a rematch and formed a ticket that included two council candidates, school board members Frank Neglia and Deborah Orme. In the primary, he faced former Council President Louis Valori and his running mates, former school board member Gary Martin and Musella.
Barberio won the primary by 185 votes, 52%-48%. Musella was the top vote-getter in the council race, coming in 85 votes in front of Neglia, who led Martin by 46 votes and Orme by 275. Former Councilman Rob Peluso came in fifth, 565 votes behind Musella
In the general election, he was the top vote-getter, leading Neglia by 291 votes and running 1,002 votes ahead of Democrat Judith Hernandez. (Hernandez won a seat last year by just two votes.)
Barberio was first elected mayor in 2009 and re-elected in 2013. Soriano ousted him in 2017 by 834 votes, 53%-47%.
“I recognize that personal ambitions and differences of opinion are inevitable in politics, but I urge you to consider the broader implications of disunity at this critical juncture,” Ali said. “The stakes for Parsippany, for Morris County, and for the Republican Party as a whole, are too high for us to allow factionalism to dictate our path forward.”
