BOONTON - Jim Gannon prides himself on not being a partisan politician.

Sure, he is a Republican, but as Morris County sheriff, his focus is on law enforcement, which by definition is not political.

That makes his choice to run for lieutenant governor with Jack Ciattarelli a bit of a head scratcher.

Gannon is politically popular. He was elected sheriff in 2016 and in recent elections, Democrats haven't even challenged him.

However, an observer has to wonder how far that popularity goes.

Ciattarelli clearly is hoping that Gannon will take some Morris County votes from Mikie Sherrill, who represents most of the county in the House. Sherrill, by the way, has won Morris County every year she has run for Congress.

The problem is a county sheriff in New Jersey simply does not have widespread name recognition. It is not a position that often resonates with the general public.

Ciattarelli and Gannon were introduced as a team Wednesday morning at Johnnies Tavern, a local mainstay and kind of a throw-back. The bar opens at 8 a.m. every day but Sunday. How many bars still do that?

Team Jack was certainly well prepared. Signs bearing the candidate’s name were ubiquitous as soon as one drove into town.

Supporters began gathering amid the bar’s indoor shuffleboard and pool tables at 8:30.

One of those enjoying the festivities, Anthony Bucco, the GOP Senate leader, said Jim is “just what the state needs.”

He said Gannon can get things done and that not being seen as overly political is a good thing.

A few minutes later, Gannon arrived to cheers all around.

He was already talking like a statewide candidate.

“We’re going to do it,” he shouted.

Ciattarelli showed up a few minutes later and plunged into the growing crowd, many of whom by now, were sweating in the heat of the day. No air conditioning.

Bucco grabbed the mic:

“You can feel the energy,” he said. As is the norm for Republican events, Bucco described a state that is falling apart.

He called Jack and Jim, as the hastily-made signs said, a “dynamic duo.”

For his part, Ciattarelli said simply:

“We are going to win this race.”

He added that he likes the sound of Jack and Jim even better than Batman and Robin.

Ciattarelli praised Gannon as a “man of the people “ Gannon stepped to the podium and praised a turnout of about 300.

“Morris County never disappoints, he said.

The sheriff, and now LG candidate,  stressed  his work in law enforcement dating back to walking a beat in Boonton.

Gannon was right in line with GOP campaign planks, saying New Jersey is broken and that it’s time for a change.

He said Mikie Sherrill will try to make the campaign about something other than New Jersey. He said that’s because her party created “the mess” we’re in now. Just as an aside, the sheriff has had a good working relationship with Sherrill. That may be history.

Ciattarelli,  in the parking lot, was askes about a ticket with “two white men.”

He brushed it off, saying both will appeal to average New Jerseyans.