MORRISTOWN - When Tim Dougherty scanned the crowd in the Thomas Jefferson school auditorium, he saw more than a hundred people. This was noon on New Year's Day.

"It's great so many people have come out to our reorganization (meeting), " he said. "I don't know why."

Dougherty is starting his fifth term as mayor, so he's entitled to some self-deprecating humor, as he himself said.

But there was more to this story,

Mikie Sherrill was waiting in the wings - quite literally - to swear in Dougherty and to say a few words.

The governor-elect actually arrived after the mayor spoke; the meeting agenda was understandably changed to accommodate the guest speaker.

Sherrill tied the Revolutionary War history of Morristown with the nation's 250th birthday on July 4 of this year. The connection is obvious.

Of more relevance, Sherrill spoke of "tough times" ahead in the nation and state, but expressed optimism.

"... I can't feel anything but hope today."

Sherrill complimented the town's leadership and said she gets "chills" when she sees people taking an oath to serve. Makes no difference if it's a town, a state or the nation, the feeling is the same.
The annual "reorg" meeting is a tradition throughout the state. This is when those elected in November formally join the governing body.

Time was when just about all of them occurred on New Year's Day but over the years, that has changed. New Year's Eve partying apparently takes a toll.

At any rate, many reorgs are held the first week of January  which, unfortunately, makes them less special than they used to be. Credit Morristown for preserving the Jan. 1 tradition.

These meetings, generally, also draw a crowd of elected officials.

Morristown is in Legislative District 25 and the three lawmakers who will represent the district were in attendance - Republican Sen. Anthony M. Bucco, Republican Assemblywoman Aura Dunn and just elected Democratic Assemblywoman-to-be Marisa Sweeney.

Morristown is also in CD-11, Sherrill's old district. Twelve Dems are seeking to replace her in Congress and two of them were on hand - Brendan Gill and Jeff Grayzel.

As governor-elect, Sherrill is in demand. Before coming to Morristown, she presided over two similar reorg meetings in Union County. And she is scheduled to do more in the coming days.

In his speech, Dougherty referred to Sherrill as a woman of "clarity, integrity and strength."

Regarding Morristown, Dougherty, who beat a Republican and an independent last fall, said the town will continue to move forward.

Specifically, he mentioned redevelopment of North Park Place, a block in downtown that has been mostly vacant for some time.

More broadly, the mayor said that when action is required to improve this historic town, the town will not only move quickly, it will move together.