Republican gubernatorial candidate Jack Ciattarelli officially introduced Morris County Sheriff James Gannon as his running mate for lieutenant governor during a campaign event Wednesday morning at Johnnies Tavern in Boonton, Gannon’s hometown.
Gannon, 64, brings nearly four decades of law enforcement experience to the Republican ticket. He is currently serving his third term as Morris County sheriff, having been first elected in 2016, re-elected in 2019, and re-elected again in 2023. A former patrolman in Boonton Township, Gannon advanced to deputy chief of investigations in the Morris County Prosecutor’s Office, where he handled more than 120 homicide cases and took part in high-profile investigations, including the 1992 kidnapping and murder of Exxon executive Sidney Reso.
His public safety credentials also include time with the FBI Joint Terrorism Task Force and global security work at Novartis Pharmaceuticals. As sheriff, he established the Morris County Cold Case Unit and led law enforcement training across the U.S. and abroad.
Gannon has emphasized addiction recovery and mental health services through initiatives like “Hope One,” a mobile outreach program providing free Narcan training, access to treatment resources, and mental health support. He also launched the “Hope Wing” in the county jail to aid inmates with substance use disorders.
In 2018, he co-founded RSVP-3, a school safety and threat assessment program, in partnership with local police chiefs and mental health experts. The initiative led to the development of a mobile app for anonymously reporting concerning behavior.
A Boonton Township native and the son of an NYPD detective, Gannon holds degrees from County College of Morris and William Paterson University. He also completed advanced training at the FBI National Academy, Rutgers University, and Fairleigh Dickinson University.
Outside of law enforcement, Gannon has served as president of the 200 Club of Morris County, vice chairman of Greystone Park Psychiatric Hospital, and an adjunct professor at Centenary College.
Ciattarelli’s selection of Gannon reinforces his campaign’s law-and-order platform and brings in a candidate with bipartisan recognition.
