MG contributor wins award, declares run for mayor of Morristown

Scott Schlosser, a veteran photographer  for MorristownGreen.com, seized the moment Thursday while accepting an award from the Morris County Probation Division to announce his candidacy for mayor of Morristown.

Relax, Tim.

Schlosser, 20, said he will be ready for the job sometime around 2034.

“It’s my calling in life,” he said after accepting a Courthouse Kudos commendation for his performance as a volunteer intern for the probation division.  One day, he said, he envisions the certificate framed above his desk in the mayor’s office.

Speaking to judges, administrators and co-workers in what may go down as one of the great award  speeches ever, Schlosser displayed the sharp critical eye required of public servants.

When Chief Probation Officer Jonathan Bell called him into his office to inform him of the honor, Schlosser recounted, “I thought Jon was going to ask me to leave, because the numbers were down so much.”

Schlosser even volunteered to take one for the team, offering to step down because “I’m probably bad luck.”

But his colleagues would hear none of that; on Thursday they started lobbying for the division to triple the salary of the unpaid intern.

[Schlosser’s speech starts just before the 2:00 mark in the video; it picks up steam and is highly recommended viewing.]

“We’re looking forward to having him here for a long time,” said Bell, who was joined at the ceremony by Morris County Assignment Judge Thomas Weisenbeck, Family Court Judge Maritza Berdote Byrne, Trial Court Adminstrator Rashad Shabaka-Burns and Assistant Chief Probation Officer Mark Hengemuhle.

In addition to his stints for Morristown Green and the Probation Division, Schlosser works at the Hyatt Morristown. He also has volunteered for the Morris County Tourism Bureau and the Morristown Partnership.

Courthouse Human Resources Supervisor Leslie Darcy described Schlosser as a “refreshing and charming addition to our cadre of young interns.”

Schlosser’s “always-positive, upbeat and professional attitude and demeanor” sets him apart, and inspires similar attitudes in the staff, Darcy said. She rattled off a host of qualities that certainly sound mayoral: Empathy, understanding, eagerness to learn.

Already, Schlosser–Scotty to his friends– is exhibiting leadership tendencies and a penchant for speaking his mind.

“He tells me what to do,” said his supervisor, Marilyn Miller.

Diana Fonseca, another probation supervisor, recently took Schlosser to a court proceeding. As they were walking back to her office, Schlosser turned to someone and observed:

“She talks so fast, I think the judge gives her whatever she wants!”