New Mayor Named In Morris Township

MORRIS TOWNSHIP, NJ — A new mayor has been officially selected for Morris Township, officials announced on Thursday.

Donna Guariglia, a first-term committee member, will begin her one-year term as mayor during the committee's annual reorganization meeting on Jan. 3.

Committeeman Jeff Grayzel was also chosen to serve as deputy mayor for 2024, according to a statement sent out by the township.

“I am proud and honored to serve the Morris Township community as your 2024 mayor. I have long been committed to my community and public service,” Guariglia said. “I thank the residents of Morris Township for your enthusiasm and engagement when participating in sharing your concerns—your voices and priorities are the guiding force behind the decisions we make.”

Guariglia is a 40-year-old resident of the township and the mother of four. She is finishing her first term on the Township Committee after being appointed in 2022 and then winning the election that year when she ran with Grayzel.

Guariglia has served on the municipal oversight committees of Finance, Personnel, Fire, Transportation, Sewer, and Environment, as well as a liaison to the Senior Citizens' Advisory Committee. She is also a long-time advocate for women's and girls' rights, diversity and inclusion, and community participation and service.

“As your mayor in 2024, I will move forward the projects and initiatives in front of us. I am committed to accept the challenges we may face, and I see a path forward to lead our community to ensure that our tomorrows are better than our yesterdays,” she added.

Guariglia succeeds Mark Gyorfy, who was elected to the committee in 2018 at the age of 26 and served two terms as mayor in 2022 and 2023.

Grayzel is now serving his fourth term on the Township Committee, having first won a historic special election in 2007 after the November 2006 election was deemed to be a tie, giving credence to the old saying “every vote counts."

He served as mayor of Morris Township in 2019 and again in 2021.

Grayzel said that improving resident engagement, prioritizing budgetary sustainability, and resolving quality-of-life issues were some of the committee's accomplishments over the past several years.

He also stated that Morris Township has heavily invested in community infrastructure, including the reconstruction of multiple roadways, the addition of new sidewalks throughout the town to promote safe pedestrian circulation, the installation of new drainage to control flooding, and the upgrading and expansion of the town's vast recreational opportunities.

“I am very pleased with the accomplishments of the Township Committee over the past five years. We will continue that good work in 2024 and beyond,” Grayzel said.