Morristown Election Campaign Slams Current Administration Over Recent Ordinance Approval

MORRISTOWN, NJ — Candidates running for Morristown mayor and council have spoken out against a recent decision by the current administration.

Morristown Mayoral Candidate Bruce Meringolo, along with running mates Andrew Delaney, Aaron Oliver, and Celeste Kaitsa, have slammed the current administration’s recent approval of a $7.5 million parking ordinance.

Ordinance No. O-22-2025, adopted last week with a 5-1 vote, provides a $7.5 million bond to the Morristown Parking Authority (MPA).

The funds are for the purchase of two properties to establish more accessible parking in the town. However, according to officials, the MPA has not provided any details on the parking facilities or its financial plans to repay the bond.

One official, Councilman Robert Iannaccone, voted against the ordinance saying, “We should be seeing the plan before we vote to facilitate the plan.”

See Related Story: Morristown Council Adopts $7.5M Parking Ordinance, 1 Official Expresses Concerns

The Meringolo campaign released a statement criticizing the council’s decision to move forward with the plans without being told the specifics.

“We do not understand the rush to bond and risk millions of taxpayer dollars regardless of any merits a project may have without full discussion and fact finding,” the statement read. “The Council had the opportunity to hold additional meetings, but rammed a vote straight through. Transparency and fiscal integrity is so very important in government. Morristown deserves better!”

“A New Generation of Leadership for Morristown”

Running for Morristown Mayor as a write-in Republican candidate is Meringolo, turning the election into a three-way mayor’s race between incumbent Democrat Tim Dougherty and Independent newcomer Andrea Lekberg.

Meringolo brings experience from Long Hill Township, serving as mayor, a councilman, and a school board member. He also currently serves as chair of the Morris County Housing Authority.

“I am honored to have this opportunity and I'm humbled by the outpouring of support from the community that would ask me to step up and take on this role,” Meringolo said in a statement. “I look forward to sharing my views about issues that impact every resident and business of Morristown in the coming months.”

Joining Meringolo on the ballot in November are council candidates Delaney, Oliver, and Kaitsa. The campaign calls itself “A New Generation of Leadership for Morristown.”