Barberio keeps promise made four years ago.
Bureau Report
NEW YORK: Parsippany, New Jersey Mayor James Barberio has announced local businessman Jigar Shah as his administration’s special liaison to the Indian American community.
Shah has worked as an unofficial link between the Barberio administration and Parsippany’s South Asian community for year, reported Patch.com. Barberio had promised the community four years on his campaign trail that he would create such a liaison, and now he’s made good his promise.
According to his Linked In page, Shah is president of Mount Tabor’s D K International LLC, a subsidiary of the Veerprabhu Export House, of which he is a principal. The company specializes in the international export of food products and spices from India.
Shah, who’s been in Parsippany since 1974 and attended Montclair State University, is the uncle of Amil Shah, a member of the Parsippany Zoning Board of Adjustment, and Milin Shah, who is poised to run in the Town Council primary election as part of Barberio’s re-election ticket.
Shah is known in Parsippany for his work for Republican campaigns and candidates in recent years. He was named in connection with alleged absentee ballot fraud in the 2011 primary while working for council candidates Michael dePierro, Vincent Ferrara, John Fox, Brian Stanton, who collectively were known as Team Parsippany, said the Patch report. The councilmen denied wrongdoing in the matter, which arose during the contested freeholder race between Margaret Nordstrom and current Freeholder William “Hank” Lyon.
In a press statement, Shah is described as a “tireless advocate” for Indian-Americans.
“Jigar is the perfect person for this position,†the mayor is quoted as saying. “Hundreds, if not thousands of Indian-Americans in Parsippany have relationships with Jigar that stem for nearly two decades.”
He added that Shah has served informally as a bridge between Barberio’s Town Hall and Indian-Americans in Parsippany since the administration’s start in 2009.
He said Indian-Americans make vital contributions to the township, including places of worship, restaurants, dance studios, beauty salons and a host of small businesses.
“Indian-Americans have become an essential part of Parsippany, and one of the reasons why Parsippany is ranked the #1 township to live in New Jersey,†said Barberio.
In 2009, he promised the Indian-American community a special liaison to help voice their concerns and issues directly with the administration. He described the creation of this volunteer position as a step forward for the community, which the U.S. Census Bureau shows as the fastest growing culture in Parsippany, Morris County and New Jersey.
A crowd of more than 100 turned out for the Town Hall ceremony. Among the attendees were U.S. Rep. Rodney Frelinghuysen, Morris County Freeholder Ann Grossi, Parsippany Town Council President Brian Stanton, Council Vice President Vincent Ferrara and Councilmen Michael dePierro and Jonathan Nelson, said the report.