Republican gubernatorial candidate Jack Ciattarelli has selected Morris County Sheriff James M. Gannon as his running mate for lieutenant governor, the New Jersey Globe reports. Gannon, 64, is a seasoned law enforcement official from Boonton with decades of public service and a reputation for bipartisan cooperation.
The formal announcement is expected Tuesday at Johnnies Tavern in Boonton.
Gannon brings deep law enforcement credentials to the GOP ticket, having previously served as a beat cop, the deputy chief of investigations in the Morris County Prosecutor’s Office, and a three-term elected sheriff. Over the course of his career, he has handled more than 120 homicide investigations and worked with the FBI’s Joint Terrorism Task Force.
A well-known figure in Morris County, Gannon has won all three of his elections as sheriff, twice by wide margins and once unopposed. His long-standing ties in the region and record of bipartisan respect — including a 2016 endorsement from former Democratic Governor Richard Codey — suggest potential crossover appeal.
Gannon, the son of a decorated NYPD detective, grew up in a working-class Irish-Polish family. He has held various community roles including volunteer firefighter, ambulance squad member, and co-founder of the Morris County Emerald Society. He is known for his work on mental health, school safety, and addiction recovery programs, including the nationally recognized Hope One initiative — a mobile outreach program addressing opioid addiction and homelessness.