Morris Sheriff Candidate Pledges No Double-Dipping If Elected

PARSIPPANY, N.J. – Boonton native and Republican candidate for Morris County Sheriff James Gannon announced a bold move Tuesday, pledging to freeze his pension fund if elected.

Gannon, a 25-year veteran of the Boonton and Boonton Township police departments, receives $78,160 annually from the Police And Firemen’s Retirement System. The role of Morris County Sheriff would give Gannon an annual salary of somewhere in the neighborhood of $200,000 when coupled with his pension payments – all from taxpayer dollars.

But Gannon announced that if elected to a full term as Sheriff in November, he’ll file the necessary paperwork with the State of New Jersey to freeze his pension payments, he said.

In doing so, he’ll also be freezing a potential $60,000 payout to his beneficiary – his daughter – in the event of his death.

Gannon cited Census Data and said the average Morris County household has a per capita income of $98,633 annually, and “it didn’t feel appropriate” to accept both a state pension and Sheriff’s salary.

“Make no mistake, I believe law enforcement officers and firefighters earn their pensions – these men and women leave their families at home and put their lives on the line every day to keep us safe,” Gannon said in a statement. “But, for me personally, getting two checks funded by taxpayers to do just one job didn’t seem right. I want voters and taxpayers to know that running for Sheriff isn’t about the money for me – it’s about keeping our county safe and secure.”

Longtime Sheriff Ed Rochford, 71, announced he will not be running for re-election in 2016, and threw his support behind John Sierchio, a retired Bloomfield officer.

Sierchio and Gannon are so far the two Republican candidates on the Primary Election ballot set for June 7.