Lifelong Law Enforcement Official Will Run As Republican For Morris County Sheriff

BOONTON, N.J. – From the police force to the private sector and the Federal Bureau of Investigations in between, James Gannon has a passion for law enforcement.

The Boonton resident is setting is sights on another form of law enforcement, and has officially announced his candidacy for Morris County Sheriff in this year’s election. Gannon will be running as a Republican in the June Primary Election.

Current Morris County Sheriff Ed Rochford told Patch Monday he has not yet decided if he’ll run for re-election, and plans to make that decision, and announcement, before mid-February.

Gannon served as an officer with the Boonton and Boonton Township police departments; Deputy Chief of Investigations at the Morris County Prosecutor’s Office; a member of the FBI’s elite Joint Terrorism Task Force; and most recently at Global Head of Security Risk at Novartis.

Gannon is a widower. His wife of 26 years, Lisa, passed away in 2010 after a long battle with Multiple Sclerosis. Gannon’s daughter, Kate, and her husband are expecting their first child this summer.

“I am entering the race to utilize my 33-plus years of law enforcement and security experience to usher in a more modern, professional and fiscally responsible approach to the Sheriff’s Office, and to help make Morris County an even more safe and secure place to live, work and retire,” Gannon said in a letter announcing his candidacy.

Gannon will be holding a campaign kickoff event Monday, Feb. 8 at 7 p.m. at Maxfield’s on Main in Boonton.

Photo Credit: James Gannon