GOP’s Jack Ciattarelli Picks Morris County Sheriff Jim Gannon as Lt. Gov Running Mate

Boonton, NJ – July 22, 2025 — Republican gubernatorial nominee Jack Ciattarelli has officially tapped Morris County Sheriff James “Jim” Gannon as his lieutenant governor candidate. The pick follows a vetting process that included considerations of several prominent figures, including State Sen. Holly Schepisi and former assemblyman Don Guardian  .

A Law-and-Order Running Mate

Sheriff Gannon, 64, brings decades of law enforcement experience to the ticket. A former Boonton beat cop, he ascended to deputy chief of investigations in the Morris County Prosecutor’s office and handled more than 120 homicide cases. Gannon also served on the FBI’s Joint Terrorism Task Force and participated in the post-9/11 recovery in Lower Manhattan  .

He’s a respected figure in Morris County, winning three sheriff elections—two by landslides and one unopposed. He’s built a reputation for community-oriented policing, spearheaded opioid outreach through the Hope One mobile initiative, and championed body-worn cameras across the county’s departments  .

Broad Political & Community Appeal

Gannon’s standing transcends partisan lines. Democrats like former Gov. Richard Codey endorsed him in 2016, and Representative Mikie Sherrill has publicly commended him, pointing to his ability to collaborate across party boundaries  . His lifework includes establishing a cold-case unit, resolving high-profile murders, and partnering with agencies globally for law enforcement training.

Shared Background, Strong Values

Like Ciattarelli, Gannon hails from modest, small-town roots. He grew up in an Irish‑Polish household—his father was a decorated NYPD detective—and served his community as a volunteer firefighter and part of the ambulance squad. During the holidays, he famously dressed as Santa for local children  . He also co-founded the Morris County Emerald Society and launched a teddy-bear giveaway program for children in distress  .

His commitment extends beyond enforcement: he’s involved in mental-health advocacy, food security programs and school safety initiatives. Gannon also held significant roles outside law enforcement, including as global head of Security Risk at Novartis and as vice-chairman of Greystone Park Psychiatric Hospital  .

Personal & Professional Resilience

Gannon, a Boonton resident with a daughter and two grandchildren, studied criminal justice at William Paterson University and trained at the FBI Academy in Quantico  . His personal journey includes enduring the loss of his wife to multiple sclerosis in 2010 and his brother—Superior Court Judge Edward V. Gannon—in 2016. He also lost his father to cancer in 1993  .

Strategic Seat for GOP

Ciattarelli’s choice aims to cement his law-and-order message and bolster GOP support in Morris County, a region where Democrats fear gains by Rep. Sherrill. Gannon is widely known and well-regarded locally, making him a potent counterweight to his Democratic opponent’s regional reach  . The announcement is set for tomorrow at Johnnie’s Tavern in Boonton  .

The Road Ahead

The lieutenant governor selection deadline is July 28, giving Democrat Mikie Sherrill just under a week to finalize her choice  .

Bottom line: Sheriff Jim Gannon brings experience, bipartisan respect, and local popularity to Ciattarelli’s ticket—cementing a law-and-order message while strategically shoring up support in a key county.