Morris County Reorganizes in Nation’s Semiquincentennial Year
Published on January 02, 2026
Stephen H. Shaw of Mountain Lakes Seated as Commissioner Director
The Morris County Board of County Commissioners convened tonight for its annual reorganization, installing new leadership and swearing in reelected county officials as a town crier stepped forward to formally announce that the New Year marks the 250th anniversary of America’s independence.
Commissioner Stephen H. Shaw was sworn in as director and Commissioner John Krickus as deputy director of the board during the 6 p.m. meeting on the fifth floor of the Administration and Records Building in Morristown. Oaths of office also were administered to fellow Commissioners Douglas R. Cabana, Thomas J. Mastrangelo and Christine Myers, who were each reelected in November to three-year terms on the board, and Morris County Sheriff James M. Gannon, who was reelected to his fourth, five-year term.
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Photos of the Event
A lifelong New Jersey resident serving his third term on the board, Director 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,” Director Shaw said.
“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 continued.
In the fashion of town-criers of yore, who would shout news and proclamation in the streets of colonial-era America, Denville Town Crier Douglas Gabel stepped forward after Director Shaw’s remarks to shout out events planned in Morris County this year in celebration of the nation’s 250th anniversary.
Gabel, a former Denville councilman and current Morris County park commissioner, encouraged municipalities and residents to participate in the county’s semiquincentennial celebrations, reminding everyone to visit morriscounty250.org and follow @MorrisCounty250 on Facebook and Instagram for updates and a complete calendar of programs and events.
Commissioner Krickus, who has served on the board since 2020, including as director in 2023, was sworn in as deputy director by U.S. Rep. Thomas Kean, Jr. as Krickus’s wife, Carolyn, held 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,” said Deputy Director Krickus, before highlighting the ongoing initiatives supported by the commissioners at the County College of Morris and Morris County Vocational School District.
Commissioner Cabana, the longest-serving member of the board and now beginning his 11th term, was also sworn in by Congressman Kean, with the Bible held by Cabana’s 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.
Commissioner Mastrangelo, who had been director in 2013 and 2014, was sworn into his sixth term by his daughter, attorney Brittney Mastrangelo, while the Bible was held by his wife, Debbie, and their son, Chris.
Commissioner Myers, who is serving her third term, had been director in 2024. She was sworn in by Congressman 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 the sheriff’s daughter, Kate, along with his son-in-law, Matt, his grandchildren, Luca and Ella, and his girlfriend, Lisa.
Other board members who joined the event were past-Director Tayfun Selen and Commissioner Deborah Smith. During the meeting, Commissioner Smith noted the recently presented 2026 Capital Budget and reaffirmed the board’s support for Israel, while Commissioner Selen deferred his remarks to a video summarizing highlights 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. Sheriff 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 was held in memory of Desmond Lloyd, a widely respected Morris County restaurateur and entrepreneur who, with his wife, Alice, opened The Grand Café in Morristown in 1981. An Irish immigrant who became a U.S. citizen in 1976, Lloyd built a life defined by hard work, generosity and community service, supporting numerous boards, organizations and charitable initiatives. He passed away on Dec. 20, 2025, at the age of 85.
Included in the moment of silence was former U.S. Rep. Richard “Dick” Zimmer, who passed on New Year’s Eve. He served three terms in the House, after serving as a state Senator and state Assemblyman, representing portions of Morris County during his tenures in state and federal offices.
The Board of County Commissioners will hold its next work session and regular meeting on Jan. 7, 2026 at the Administration and Records Building. The work session begins at 5 p.m. and the regular meeting at 7 p.m. The meetings will continue to be held publicly in the Administration & Records Building and live streamed via WebEx through the county’s website.
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Photo 1: Sen. Joe Pennacchio (left) administering the oath of office to swear in Commissioner Stephen Shaw as director, while his wife, Cindy, held the Bible.
Photo 2: Commissioner John Krickus (right) being sworn in as deputy director by U.S. Rep. Thomas Kean, Jr. as Krickus’s wife, Carolyn, held the Bible.
Photo 3: Denville Town Crier Douglas Gabel announcing upcoming Morris County 250th Anniversary events.