Meet Parsippany Mayoral Candidate Pulkit Desai

PARSIPPANY, NJ — With Election Day approaching, Patch is putting together a series of candidate profiles so readers can learn more about who’s on their ballot.

Pulkit Desai is a combat veteran with the U.S. Marines and a cybersecurity professional who is throwing his hat in the ring to become Parsippany's mayor.

Parsippany Patch asked candidates to share some information about themselves, and asked identical questions to all candidates.

See Desai's responses below:

• Full name: Pulkit Desai
• Age: N/A
• Town of residence: Parsippany, NJ
• Position sought: Mayor
• Party affiliation: Democrat
• Family: Wife/Son/Mother
• Education: US Marine Corps
• Occupation: Information Technology / Cyber Security
• Previous or current elected/appointed office (if applicable): President of LPPOA (Lake Parsippany Property Owners Association) since October 2020.

1. Why are you running for this position?

I love this town. Parsippany has been my home since 2000, the place where I raised my son and, in many ways, grew up alongside him. Over the years, I’ve seen our community evolve from great schools and safe neighborhoods to a town enriched by its growing diversity. That diversity is our strength. It’s what makes Parsippany vibrant, dynamic, and full of opportunity.

Now, I want to give back to the place that gave so much to my family. I want to help restore the charm and character that once defined Parsippany while celebrating the rich mix of cultures that define it today. Together, we can keep this town a welcoming, thriving home for every generation; because Parsippany’s best days are still ahead of us.

2. What do you believe to be the most pressing issue in the community, and what do you intend to do about it if elected?

PILOT programs that fail to properly fund our schools and strain our infrastructure are not a win for Parsippany. When developers receive long-term tax breaks, residents are left to make up the difference through higher property taxes while our classrooms become overcrowded and our roads deteriorate. That’s not shared progress; that’s imbalance. This approach has also deepened a growing lack of trust in local government. Too many residents feel unheard, overtaxed, and excluded from decisions that directly affect their lives. As mayor, I will put Parsippany first by halting new PILOT agreements that don’t serve the public good and ensuring development decisions truly benefit our residents, our schools, and our community’s future.

3. What qualifications and qualities do you possess that make you best suited for the position?

I bring a lifetime of service, leadership, and problem-solving to this role. As President of the Lake Parsippany Property Owners Association (LPPOA) - one of the largest lake communities in New Jersey. I serve over 2,200 property owners and nearly 8,800 residents, which is larger than 30 towns in our state. This volunteer position has given me hands-on experience managing people, resources, and complex community issues. I helped restore voting rights that had been taken away, published transparent monthly budget reports, and rebuilt trust in a community once divided. I’ve learned how to manage expectations, navigate changing state regulations, and deliver results through collaboration and transparency.

Before this, I spent years volunteering in Scouting and youth sports while raising my son - experiences that connected me deeply with families across Parsippany and taught me what our residents value: responsible growth, strong schools, and a sense of belonging.

Professionally, I’ve spent nearly 30 years in the technology sector for a New Jersey–based Fortune 500 company, managing global teams and complex projects with integrity, reliability, and accountability.

I also proudly served six years in the U.S. Marine Corps, including deployment during Operation Desert Shield and Desert Storm, where I led Marines through dangerous terrain and learned what true leadership under pressure means: when challenges arise, you adapt, improvise, and overcome.

These varied experiences in military, professional, and community have taught me the importance of teamwork, listening, and leading with purpose. They’ve shown me what good governance should look like: transparent, accountable, and built on trust.

4. Overdevelopment has been a growing concern throughout NJ. How do you intend to address it in your community?

Overdevelopment is one of Parsippany’s most pressing concerns. When new projects move forward without proper infrastructure, the roads get crowded, schools become overloaded, and long-term costs get shifted onto residents.

I believe the solution lies in smart, balanced growth, developing in places with existing infrastructure, preserving open space, and ensuring new projects pay their way. This aligns with New Jersey’s smart growth principles, which emphasize directing growth to areas already served by roads, sewers, and utilities while protecting our neighborhoods and natural resources.

• Prioritize redevelopment of underused and unused properties rather than expanding new sprawl; because smart growth means investing in what we’ve already built, not leaving towns behind.
• Engage the community early and continuously; because residents deserve input into what growth looks like, where it goes, and how it’s paid for.
• Parsippany deserves growth that works for everybody - families, longtime residents, renters, empty nesters. Not growth that benefits only special interests while our schools and roads foot the bill. I’m ready to lead that effort.

5. If you are running against an incumbent, where do you believe they’re lacking in serving the community? If you are an incumbent, what areas, if any, do you think you could improve upon in terms of public service?

The current administration has lost the trust of the community. For years, residents have been told stories that don’t match the town’s own financial records. Taxes have risen sharply while services and infrastructure have lagged. At the same time, long-term PILOT deals have been approved that benefit developers but shortchange our schools and taxpayers.

Leadership means transparency and accountability, two things missing from Town Hall today. Residents feel unheard and left out of major decisions that impact their neighborhoods, their taxes, and their quality of life. I believe in restoring that trust through open communication, honest budgeting, and responsible growth that puts Parsippany’s families first, not special interests.

6. In a few words, what is your favorite thing about your community?

What I love most about Parsippany is its diversity, convenience, and character. This town is a true mosaic of cultures, traditions, and generations, where you can find a piece of the world in every neighborhood. Each area has its own personality, yet we’re connected by shared pride in calling Parsippany home. It’s a place where community means something and where you can raise a family, build friendships, and feel like you belong. That mix of people, places, and purpose is what makes Parsippany truly special to me.

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Election Day is Nov. 4.

If you are running in the Parsippany Mayoral race and did not receive a candidate profile request email, please reach out to jack.slocum@patch.com.