Get To Know Morris Plains Boro Council Candidate Cara Parmigiani

Editor's Note: Patch sent out questionnaires to every candidate who filed a petition of candidacy by the deadline. We sent them to the email addresses registered as the official campaign emails at the County Clerk's Office. We will run the responses in the order they were received with no edits. Those candidates who did not receive a questionnaire should double check their spam folders, email filed with the clerk and contact russ.crespolini@patch.com for a form.

Name

Cara Parmigiani

Age (as of Election Day)

38

Position Sought

Residence: Morris Plains. Position sought: Morris Plains Borough Council

Party Affiliation

Democrat

Family

Spouse is Jennifer Ginsberg, daughter is Louise (17 months old), and my dog is “Pesto Parmigiani.”

Does anyone in your family work in politics or government?

No

Education

Seton Hall University School of Law; Rutgers University, Bachelors Degree in Genetics and Psychology

Occupation

Attorney at law, 7 years
Prior experience as a property manager, predominantly in Morris County, 10 years

Previous or Current Elected or Appointed Office

None

Campaign website

www.mpdems.org/cara-for-council

Why are you seeking elective office?

I am seeking elective office because I want to serve Morris Plains by dedicating my skills, experience, and talent to making our Community of Caring even better.
The single most pressing issue facing our community is _______, and this is what I intend to do about it.

The single most pressing issue facing our community is small business development. This is what I intend to do about it.
• Promote more downtown attractions, including pop-up businesses, tastings featuring local restaurants, art shows, and performances highlighting local talent.
• Encourage businesses to work together to create new opportunities.
• Support efforts to lower barriers and encourage diverse businesses to open in our downtown area.

What are the critical differences between you and the other candidates seeking this post?

With so many young families in town, it is important to have a representative who reflects the future of Morris Plains while still maintaining our close-knit, small-town community. My family has been involved in renting properties in the Morris Plains downtown for over 76 years. I understand what it takes to create a vibrant downtown that we can all enjoy and be proud of.

If you are a challenger, in what way has the current board or officeholder failed the community (or district or constituency)

The current Borough Council, under the leadership of Mayor Jason Karr, is working together in a non-partisan manner to tackle the needs of the borough. I hope to join Councilwomen Joan Goddard and Nancy Verga, who share my commitment to preserving Morris Plains values while preparing for our town’s future.

Describe the other issues that define your campaign platform

I will champion Complete Street initiatives for bicycle and pedestrian safety, walking paths, and traffic calming.

What accomplishments in your past would you cite as evidence you can handle this job?

I have experience working with municipal governments, appearing before municipal and county planning and zoning boards, and serving on an affordable housing advisory committee. I was instrumental in the grassroots group that helped prevent a fragrance factory from taking over the former Johnson & Johnson property, which borders a residential area. I organized expert testimony that was critical in persuading the Morris Plains Planning Board that approval of the application would endanger the "health, safety, and welfare" of the community. Afterward, I became a key member of the "Committee of Caring," a steering committee that provided input for the 2018 re-examination of the Morris Plains Master Plan. My work with the Committee of Caring helped provide a vision for Morris Plains for the next 10 years. The committee’s recommendations addressed traffic concerns, safety, walkability, and expansion of business uses in the downtown area.

The best advice ever shared with me was:

My mom used to tell me that “It’s always darkest just before the dawn.” It’s true. Sometimes things seem like they will never get better. It’s easy to become frustrated and overwhelmed. But the sun does come out eventually, and there will be a better day.

What else would you like voters to know about yourself and your positions?

I was born and raised in Morris Township. I spent a great deal of time in Morris Plains growing up, as my family managed properties here. I love the Community of Caring, and I chose to live and start a family here. I am excited about the opportunity to represent my community as a young mother and as a Morris Plains small-business owner.

To meet the needs of Morris Plains after the COVID-19 crisis, creative thinking, technology, and innovative solutions will be needed. The future is upon us. We need Council members who value the past but also represent residents who are the future of Morris Plains.

Thanks for reading! Learn more about posting announcements or events to your local Patch site. Have a news tip you'd like to share? Or maybe you have a press release you would like to submit or a correction you'd like to request? Send an email to russ.crespolini@patch.com

Subscribe to your local Patch newsletter. You can also have them delivered to your phone screen by downloading, or by visiting the Google Play store.