MORRISTOWN, N.J. (Morris County) — The Morris County Board of County Commissioners convened Friday night for its annual reorganization meeting, installing new leadership, swearing in reelected county officials and marking the approach of the nation’s 250th anniversary with a proclamation delivered by a town crier.
Commissioner Stephen H. Shaw was sworn in as director and Commissioner John Krickus as deputy director during the 6 p.m. meeting on the fifth floor of the Administration and Records Building. Oaths of office also were administered to Commissioners Douglas R. Cabana, Thomas J. Mastrangelo and Christine Myers, each reelected in November to three-year terms, and to Morris County Sheriff James M. Gannon, who was reelected to his fourth five-year term.
A lifelong New Jersey resident serving his third term on the board, Shaw previously served as director in 2021 and most recently completed two consecutive years as deputy director. State Sen. Joseph Pennacchio administered the oath as Shaw’s wife, Cindy, held the Bible.
“It is an honor to be chosen to serve as director in the year of the nation’s milestone anniversary. Each member of this board brings a different skillset, institutional knowledge and personality. We may not always agree, and sometimes our discussion can be spirited, but to me that is a strength that makes us arrive at better policy decisions,” Shaw said.
Shaw also recognized the hundreds of volunteers who serve on county advisory committees, commissions and boards.
“Tonight, we will be appointing hundreds of volunteers that serve on our various advisory committees, commissions and boards. They are the heart and soul of our county government. Some have served for decades, and they all bring a wealth of talent and perspective to our board. Thank you all for your volunteer work,” he said.
Following Shaw’s remarks, Denville Town Crier Douglas Gabel stepped forward in the tradition of colonial-era town criers to announce events planned in Morris County to celebrate the nation’s semiquincentennial. Gabel, a former Denville councilman and current county park commissioner, encouraged residents and municipalities to participate in the celebrations and directed them to morriscounty250.org and on Facebook and Instagram for updates.
Krickus, who has served on the board since 2020 and was director in 2023, was sworn in as deputy director by U.S. Rep. Thomas Kean Jr., with his wife, Carolyn, holding the Bible.
“The hard work of this board and our county administration and employees allow me to say that Morris county is the best run county in New Jersey, by far,” Krickus said, highlighting ongoing initiatives at the County College of Morris and the Morris County Vocational School District.
Cabana, the longest-serving member of the board and now beginning his 11th term, was sworn in by Kean as well, with the Bible held by his sister, Amy Bucco, and her husband, State Sen. Anthony Bucco. Cabana has served five times as director and four times as deputy director since joining the board in 1997.
Mastrangelo, a former director in 2013 and 2014, was sworn into his sixth term by his daughter, attorney Brittney Mastrangelo. His wife, Debbie, and their son, Chris, held the Bible.
Myers, who is serving her third term and was director in 2024, was sworn in by Kean as her husband, Stan, held the Bible.
Sheriff Gannon was sworn into his fourth term by Morris/Sussex Superior Court Assignment Judge Stuart Minkowitz. The Bible was held by Gannon’s daughter, Kate, along with his son-in-law, Matt, his grandchildren, Luca and Ella, and his girlfriend, Lisa.
Past Director Tayfun Selen and Commissioner Deborah Smith also attended the meeting. Smith referenced the recently presented 2026 capital budget and reaffirmed the board’s support for Israel, while Selen deferred his remarks to a video highlighting accomplishments from the past year and previewing 2026 as a historic milestone.
The ceremony opened with a color guard procession led by the Morris County Sheriff’s Office Joint Honor Guard, accompanied by bagpipes performed by Douglas Parody of the Police Pipes and Drums of Morris County. Gannon led the Pledge of Allegiance, followed by the national anthem sung by Erin Dawson, a senior at the Morris County Vocational School District Academy for Performing Arts. The Rev. Michael Muller of St. Peter’s Episcopal Church of Mountain Lakes delivered the invocation and benediction.
A moment of silence honored Desmond Lloyd, a longtime Morristown restaurateur and entrepreneur who co-founded The Grand Café in 1981 and died Dec. 20, 2025, at age 85, and former U.S. Rep. Richard “Dick” Zimmer, who died on New Year’s Eve after serving in Congress and the New Jersey Legislature.
The Board of County Commissioners will hold its next work session and regular meeting Jan. 7, with the work session beginning at 5 p.m. and the regular meeting at 7 p.m. Meetings will continue to be held publicly at the Administration and Records Building and livestreamed via WebEx through the county’s website.
