Parsippany Mayor James Barberio issued the following statement on why party line bracketing in New Jersey must go.

As an elected public official whose top priority has always been to represent my constituents to the best of my ability – and not to play insider political games, I welcome the recent ruling by U.S. District Court Judge Zahid Quraishi, who declared — in a lawsuit brough by Democrat U.S. Senate candidate Andy Kim — that the county line designation is unconstitutional

Politics and government without tightly controlled party lines will be more transparent and more democratic – and less wasteful.

For those not involved in party politics, the battle over party lines may seem remote, even childish; but make no mistake, this fight is important to every citizen. The power of the line allows party bosses to shape local government decisions and decide who is elected – and not elected. The party line is the foundation of political machines that operate largely in secret for the benefit of the few. Local rule of municipalities – and counties – is sacrificed to please party bosses and their inner circle. It is hard to overestimate the lust for unquestioned power sought by party bosses.

The county line is archaic; practically medieval and certainly tinged with at least the odor of corruption. It is an offshoot of the days of Tammany Hall and Boss Hague, when New Jersey was controlled by the backroom deals of political machines that nominated obedient candidates to carry out the boss’ orders. The interests of the towns and counties was secondary to what the bosses wanted. Unfortunately, not much has changed in the past century in New Jersey. The unelected power elites have a frightening effect on political involvement; who can run for office, who gets jobs, and how our tax dollars are spent. The GOP operatives do not serve the party; they serve the desires of the county chair, no matter the cost to the Republican Party or taxpayers.

Laura Ali, the Morris County Republican Chair (MCRC) craves political power. Her only way to gain power is by controlling the county GOP line and doling out patronage in one of the wealthiest counties in the country.

Political power in Morris County become consolidated in the hands of the county Republican chair in 2021 after years of “open primaries” were replaced by the institution of the political line. Serving the desires of the person who controls the line is now a requirement to seek public office in Morris County and nearly every other county in New Jersey. How is this good for democracy?

Control of “the line” creates an outsized advantage for the candidates selected by the county chair. That control is contrary to fair elections, public interest, and more importantly, local rule.

Banished from the party line

In 2021, when I ran for mayor of Parsippany, I was not backed by the county Republican political machine. I was banished from the Morris County Republican Party line in the Primary Election. My name could be found at the outer limits of the ballot — on column 5. That was my punishment for standing up for Parsippany and not bowing to the demands of the party bosses. I insisted that the people who actually live in and govern Parsippany — not wealthy, powerful outsiders — should make the decisions impacting Parsippany’s residents. That did not sit well with the GOP party elites in Morris County.

Although my team was ultimately successful in the 2021 election — thanks to Parsippany Republicans refusal to be controlled by outsiders, the uphill struggle that our grassroots campaign went through to win that election, weighs heavily in my decision to support the abolition of the party line in New Jersey. I am disappointed – although not surprised — that MCRC Chairwoman Ali and the party insiders are spending money on lawyers who are fighting to protect the interests of the party bosses that is now endangered by Judge Quraishi’s decision. Their legal interference led to the judge’s clarification in the case brought by Rep Kim – that the injunction against the county line in the June Primary Election applies only to Democrats, not Republicans. That is preposterous.

The era of the party line is over. The power needs to return to the people, not the elite. Getting rid of the party line for N.J. Republicans would be one necessary step in the direction of positive political reform in New Jersey. I call upon my fellow Republicans, particularly my fellow Morris County Republicans, to stand up against the line and demand the same protections that the courts have provided to Democrats.