Saying residents’ concerns are being ignored in Morristown, attorney Andrew DeLaney on Saturday announced he will attempt a feat last pulled off by his late father, more than three decades ago: Winning an at-large council seat as a Republican.
“Morristown needs to do better,” the 37-year-old son of former councilman and mayor Jay DeLaney Jr. declared at the Hops Craft Bar, before an enthusiastic crowd that included a gubernatorial candidate, four state Assembly members, at least three Morris County commissioners, the county GOP chairwoman, and Andrew DeLaney’s 6-year-old daughter, Skylar.
Next November, DeLaney hopes to crack a town council composed of six Democrats and one Independent by hammering themes of public safety, overdevelopment, apartment stacking, and indifferent incumbents.
A top priority would be “cleaning up” the historic Morristown Green of addicts and others who he contends make lunchtime visitors feel unsafe or uncomfortable.
“The smell of marijuana is overpowering. I’ve seen a guy overdosing on several occasions. I’ve seen a guy getting Narcan-ed. People are urinating and exposing themselves…it’s a regular occurrence almost every single day,” DeLaney said. Assigning a police officer to a permanent beat on the town square would help, he said.
Although they have not formally announced yet, four-term Mayor Tim Dougherty and his “Morristown First” Democratic slate of at-large Council Members Toshiba Foster, David Silva and Nathan Umbriac have filed campaign paperwork with the state.
The mayor told Morristown Green he wishes DeLaney “all the best.” The council members did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
DeLaney called for more community policing, and vowed to press the town to enforce zoning laws and end stacking of apartments.
DeLaney also pledged to ask “pointed questions” about Morristown’s rapid growth.
“We need to be sure we don’t pave over our Colonial past in the name of development,” he said, asserting he will listen to residents who feel ignored, hold the administration accountable, “and not be a rubber stamp” if elected.
He did not weigh in on Morristown Medical Center’s proposed expansion, or on plans to redevelop North Park Place, the hot topics du jour.
‘PEOPLE BEFORE PARTY’
DeLaney’s father, who died of cancer two years ago this month, served as an at-large councilman from 1989 to 1993, and as Morristown’s mayor from 1998 to 2006.
Andrew DeLaney cited important lessons gleaned from his dad.
“Bipartisanship. Putting people before party. Caring about the town and loving the town, and doing so in a way…where the party is essentially secondary to doing things that fight for Morristown.”
The candidate described himself as someone who prefers seeking solutions over political combat.
“I will work with the mayor and administration when it benefits the town. If that’s 100 percent of the time, I’ll be standing right there by his side. By the same token I’m not afraid of him or his administration,” and will speak up when necessary.
That goes for President Trump and his policies as well, he said.
UPHILL BATTLE
While DeLaney believes his father was the last Republican to win an at-large council seat, Republicans occasionally have won ward seats. Alison Deeb was the last one; she served three terms in the Fourth Ward before losing to a Democrat in 2019.
In many elections, the GOP cannot rustle up any candidates — something DeLaney knows first-hand from a stint as head of Morristown’s Republican organization.
DeLaney acknowledged his steep odds. He will need support from Democrats and independents to win, in a town where registered Democrats outnumber registered Republicans by more than two-to-one. Republican ranks are eclipsed by unaffiliated voters, too.
He also knows he must raise money — lots of it. Records show the Democratic ticket is entering the 2025 race with a $65,000 war chest.
DeLaney’s secret weapon is his personality, according to state Sen. Jon Bramnick (R-21st District), who made his gubernatorial bid official earlier in the week.
“I’ve seen a lot of phonies,” Bramnick told the crowd. DeLaney, he said, exudes warmth and love.
“You cannot fake that. People can feel that. You may disagree with certain things, but you’ll never disagree with somebody who you believe is authentic. That is the most important part of politics, about government, about life, and treating people with respect.”
The cheering section included Republican state Assembly members Aura Dunn and Christian Barranco from the 25th District, and Jay Webber and Brian Bergen from the 26th. Morris County Commission Director Christine Meyers and fellow Commissioners Deborah Smith and John Krickus were in the house, along with county GOP Chair Laura Ali and Parsippany mayoral candidate Justin Musella.
A graduate of Syracuse University and St. John’s School of Law, DeLaney has been active in the Rotary, the Knights of Columbus and Morristown Beautiful. For years, he said, those pursuits checked off his boxes for civic duty. No longer.
“I cannot sit on the sidelines anymore. It would be a disservice,” he said.
His mom tried to talk him out of running for office.
“It’s long, it’s hard, it’s grueling,” said Debra Gottsleben, a retired Morristown High School librarian and former planning board member. “For me, it was hard enough seeing a spouse do it. It’s even harder seeing a child do it.”
But he made his decision, and she is on board.
“Andrew is so genuine and so caring about other people,” Gottsleben said. “He always tries to do the right thing.”
would appreciate some fact-checking on the Green being an open air drug market or whatever this guy is imagining…
David, you’re wrong. Morristown is 3 square miles, not 2. There is plenty of hometown retail. There are plenty of towns and cities that today are not what they were meant to be. That means nothing. Times change.
Cancun was a tiny fishing village, for example. Look at it now.
Some people just don’t like change. I get it. Not every places needed or needs to change. Morristown sure did. In the ’70s and ’80s downtown was moribund. Let’s hope this massive revival continues. The colonial era is over.
“Bipartisanship. Putting people before party. Caring about the town and loving the town, and doing so in a way…where the party is essentially secondary to doing things that fight for Morristown.” Like father, like son…. So good to see that ‘the apple is not falling far from the tree’ at least so far as values and principles and objectives are concerned; challenges may be different now but Andrew has seen the path his father paved and the success—for Morristown—that he had. That history, and his memory of it, will aid his vision. Andrew will bring his own distinct approach, of course, as we would hope and expect, but if he follows these principles, Morristown will benefit. This reply is written by a Democrat who believes in acknowledging, and supporting, the best candidates; as above, “party is secondary to doing things that fight for Morristown.” That sane; that savvy.
Give Andrew Delaney a chance to do right by Morristown!!!
Checks and balances are greatly needed in Morristown.
Morristown is about 2 square miles, the concept of a pedestrian center is unrealistic and will only lead to bigger traffic jams.
Morristown was an historic town and some have tried to stuff a city into it –Not one party perhaps but we do have great retail politicians and little hometown retail.
There’s some pride in seeming really popular — like when you’re in high school –but where is the responsibility?
How long will our “reputation rating” hold out when the school’s can no longer create “balance” with the Bd of Ed’s kids and parent advocated Quest students scores. That’s when they run out of the all important underserved middle kid as always happens in progressive Democratic run cities.
That goes for the same in the general population.
Morristown was never meant to be a city.
Andrew Delaney understands what the future of Morristown needs to be.
What a breath of fresh air Andrew DeLaney is! Morristown is a treasure and we can definitely do better improving our quality of life here in town. Thank you Andrew Delaney for stepping up to the challenge and becoming a council candidate who will represent all of us who live here.