Parsippany Township Council Election 2021: Cori A. Herbig

PARSIPPANY, NJ — In just a few short weeks, Parsippany will elect a mayor and two new Township Council members. Patch has asked local candidates to share their thoughts before the Nov. 2 General Election.

Patch sent out emails to all candidates to the email addresses listed for their campaign provided to the office of the clerk. The responses received will get published between now and Election Day.

Here is the response from Parsippany Town Council candidate Cori A. Herbig.

Name: Cori A. Herbig
Age (as of Election Day): 45
Party Affiliation: Democrat
Family: I live in Lake Hiawatha with my husband, Peter, and my two kids, Riley (7) and Miles (10). We also have 2 cats (Nova and Luna) and a dog (Gus) who I consider family.
Education: I have a bachelor’s degree in Philosophy and a Certificate in Criminology from Rutgers University. I also have a law degree and a Certificate in Environmental Law from Pace Law School.
Occupation: I am the Director of State Government Affairs at Mars, Inc.
Previous or Current Elected or Appointed Office: I serve on the Parsippany Open Space Committee.

Why are you seeking elective office?

I firmly believe that everyone has a responsibility to give back to their community. Given my background and experience, serving on Town Council is the perfect way for me to do so. I am on the Parsippany Open Space committee. I have 2 young kids in the Parsippany schools, and I’m deeply invested in making sure this town remains a welcoming and thriving community for all of us. I have more than 20 years of experience in government affairs and advocacy work with the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA) and Everytown for Gun Safety. I’ve worked with lawmakers all over the country on both sides of the aisle effectively, and I will bring those skills to bear if elected to Town Council.

The single most pressing issue facing our township is _______, and this is what I intend to do about it.

The single most pressing issue facing our town is balancing the services and amenities that all of us rely on with the need to keep municipal taxes low. Part of what makes Parsippany such a great place to live is all of the services and amenities that the town provides. Making sure that those services remain in place while keeping the town financially solvent is a challenge. The COVID-19 pandemic exacerbated these challenges by dramatically reducing the amount of revenue that the town collected through 2020 and 2021. Difficult decisions have to be made sometimes when circumstances dictate, and I am confident that I can work together with Mayor Soriano and the Town Council to efficiently and effectively pass a town budget each year that strikes the right balance.

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

The differences between me and my opponents are profound. My experience in government affairs places me head and shoulders above my opponents, but the thing that differentiates us the most is our approach. I live and will govern by leading with empathy, compassion, and understanding. Listening to the people of our town, whether we agree or disagree, is crucial to governing at the local level. I have extensive experience working with people to identify shared values and goals and finding the pathways to achieve those goals. I am skilled at the art of negotiation and compromise, and I have a proven track record of legislative success.

Describe the other issues that define your campaign platform.

Parsippany needs leaders who will protect open space and stand up to big developers. Overdevelopment has led to the degradation of our natural resources and increased flooding in our town. We need leaders who have the experience and expertise to work together with other members of the Township Council to get things done, including smart, sustainable development, green infrastructure, and measures to reduce climate change.

We also need leaders who understand public safety and how to build coalitions to keep our children and our communities safe. I have the experience and expertise to do just that.

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

With over two decades of experience in government affairs and advocacy work, I know what it takes to work with people with whom you disagree to get the job done. I have worked with lawmakers from both sides of the aisle in states all across the country to keep common sense public safety measures in place and to pass lifesaving gun violence prevention laws. I have significant experience in legislative and regulatory reform on extremely controversial issues, and I never shy away from the challenge. I know how to identify shared goals and build consensus among people to get the job done.

The best advice ever shared with me was:

Do not treat others how you wish to be treated. Treat them how THEY wish to be treated.

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

I have 2 young kids in the schools here, and I’m deeply committed to making sure that our town remains a welcoming and thriving community for all of us. I bring the experience, compassion, and leadership that Parsippany needs to keep moving forward. I’ve spoken to voters from Puddingstone to Lake Hiawatha and everywhere in between to find out what issues matter most to them, and I’ll continue to do so if elected. Ultimately, town councilmembers should represent their constituents in an honest, transparent, and accessible way. That’s what I’ll do if elected to Parsippany Town Council. I have dedicated my career to holding lawmakers accountable. In my work with the ASPCA and Everytown for Gun Safety, I successfully drove legislative change in state legislatures throughout the country. I took on powerful lobbying groups like the NRA and the Farm Bureau, and I won. I did so by building grassroots support, listening to what was most important to people, and sitting down at the table with people with whom I disagreed to find common ground. Identifying shared values and finding the pathways to reaching common goals is what Parsippany needs now more than ever, and I am confident that I can help Parsippany do just that.

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