PARSIPPANY — The official “Law and Order” Tour visited Parsippany on Thursday, September 26.
Their first Parsippany stop was at the Empire Diner where they talked to diners about the upcoming election in November.
Parsippany-Troy Hills Councilman Michael dePierro is seeking re-election and is running with Parsippany-Troy Hills Council President Paul Carifi, Jr., and Councilwoman Loretta Gragnani.
Their next stop was in Lake Hiawatha where they had the opportunity to meet the new business owner of “Every Dollar Store” Mehul Shah. After a few stops in some of the other stores in the shopping center, they ventured into the Spa Restaurant where they met Lucille Link who was celebrating her birthday. Joining Lucille was her son Steven, and daughter Gail Napolitano and friend Maureen McDermott.
Assemblywoman BettyLou DeCroce is a distinguished legislator with extensive local and state government experience, an unparalleled behind-the-scenes perspective on government functions, and a long history of problem solving through bipartisanship cooperation.
DeCroce serves on several legislative committees and commissions including: NJ Legislative Select Oversight into Murphy Administration Hiring Practices, Transportation & Independent Authorities, the Joint Committee on Public Schools, Banking and Insurance, Science & Technology, Pre-trial Services Review Commission, the Intergovernmental Relations Commission, and the Manufacturing Caucus.
She is member of both the Parsippany-Troy Hills Satellite Rotary Club and the Kiwanis Club of Greater Parsippany, and she has received numerous awards, including: The NJ Chamber of Commerce Outstanding Legislator of the Year; Defender of the Taxpayer Award, for her advocacy of common-sense measures to reduce taxes and create jobs; two time finalist Leading Women Entrepreneur Award; and was recognized by the Displaced Homemakers Network of New Jersey.
Prior to serving in the New Jersey State Legislature, DeCroce served as Deputy Commissioner of the New Jersey Department of Community Affairs in the Administration of Governor Chris Christie. While there, she authored the Best Practices for Municipalities, which became a nationally recognized, statewide model for identifying efficiencies in local government to reduce property taxes.
DeCroce began her government service as a Councilwoman in Mine Hill. She went on to serve as Municipal Clerk, Deputy Township Manager and Planning Board Member in Roxbury. She later served 11 years on the Board of Adjustment in Parsippany, and she served on the Board of Trustees for the New Jersey Crime Victims’ Law Center.
DeCroce also served as the first Chairwoman of the Morris County Joint Insurance Fund, an organization of 40 municipalities, where she achieved savings for the membership through shared services and negotiated healthcare.
DeCroce brings business-savvy and a small business perspective to the Legislature as former President and Owner of ERA Gallo & DeCroce Realtors, a real estate firm in Morris County for over forty-six years; and as Vice President of ABL Holdings, a home construction company. She has been declared one of the 50 Best Women in Business by NJBIZ and a NJ Monthly finalist for Leading Women Entrepreneur and Business Owner.
In addition, DeCroce was selected to participate in The Emerging Leaders Program at the University of Virginia’s Darden School of Business Administration.
DeCroce resides in Parsippany and enjoys spending time with her two sons and four grandchildren.
James Gannon is re-election for his second term as Morris County Sheriff, and BettyLou DeCroce is seeking re-election to the 26th Congressional District. She has served in the New Jersey General Assembly since 2012, where she has represented the 26th Legislative District after being appointed to fill the seat following the death of her husband, Alex DeCroce.
Jim grew up in Boonton Township in an Irish and Polish Catholic family with two brothers and one sister, who were all raised by his father, mother and grandmother. His passion for law enforcement came from his father, who was a New York City Police Detective. Gannon graduated Boonton High School where he played sports and also was a member of the Boonton Township Fire Service.
Gannon earned his Associate’s degree in Law Enforcement from County College of Morris, and then his Bachelor’s Degree in Criminal Justice Administration from William Paterson University. After graduation, Gannon started out as a Patrolman in his hometown of Boonton Township, and then Boonton, followed by service as Deputy Chief of Investigations at the Morris County Prosecutor’s Office, the FBI’s elite Joint Terrorism Task Force and Morris County-based Novartis Pharmaceuticals, where he retired as the Global Head of Security Risk.
Along the way, Gannon graduated from the FBI National Academy, earned a Certificate in Supervisory Management from Rutgers and a Masters of Administrative Science from Fairleigh Dickinson University.
During his decorated, 33-year career in law enforcement and security, Gannon served as Commander of the FuncoLand Homicide Task Force and the Walter Contreras Homicide Task Force, formed the Morris County Cold Case Unit, co-authored the “Morris County Counter-Terrorism Task Force Manual,” and has lectured and trained fellow professionals, and conducted investigations, in places like Russia, Ukraine, South Africa, Hungary, Thailand and Uzbekistan, uniquely preparing him for the day-to-day battle to protect Morris County citizens from terror attacks and other crimes.
In addition to his professional career in law enforcement and security, Gannon has given back to the surrounding communities in other ways, including as current President of the 200 Club of Morris County, Adjunct Professor at Centenary College, Life Member of the New Jersey State PBA #327, Co-Founder of the Morris County Chapter of the Emerald Society of the State of New Jersey, and as a Drum Major in the Police Pipes & Drums of Morris County to name just a few.
Gannon was married to his wife, Lisa, for 26 years before losing her in 2010 after a courageous battle against Multiple Sclerosis. Jim and Lisa had one daughter, Kate who, along with her husband Matt, are parents to son Luca and a new addition, daughter. Jim is a lifelong resident of Morris County and lives in Boonton.
The team, dawned in gold socks and gold shirts, not only helped raise awareness, but also helped raised $2,013 for the Children’s Brain Tumor Family Foundation.
Picture credits: Chris J Chambers
