MORRISTOWN – Aura Dunn had to move.

And she picked the seat of Morris County for her new legislative office, a relocation highlighted Friday morning by a ceremony that included a rabbi, a Catholic deacon and many politicians. That’s not a joke. It’s who attended the official ribbon cutting of Dunn’s new office next to the county courthouse a block or so off the town’s famous Green.

Mayor Tim Dougherty got right to the point.

“We appreciate that you are not out in the boonies,” he said to laughs from the crowd.
Dunn, who represents District 25 in the state Assembly, actually had been in Chester. But after redistricting put Chester in another district (the 24th), Dunn had to find legislative digs somewhere else.

Morristown is a vibrant place and in many ways, the entertainment and business center of the 25th District and Morris County itself. The district, which ranges over northern and western Morris, also includes West Milford in Passaic County.

Dunn, who lives in Mendham Borough, worked previously in Morristown when she was with the office of then-Rep. Rodney P. Frelinghuysen.

Having a legislative office in Morristown seems logical, but then there’s politics.

Dunn is a Republican and Morristown is very Democratic. In the last statewide election in 2023, Dunn and her two GOP running mates in the district lost here by about 1,000 votes each.

None of that mattered today.

“When you are elected, you serve everybody,” Dougherty said.

Getting into the bipartisan swing of the day, Dougherty had warm praise for Dunn and the district’s other two GOP reps – Assemblyman Christian Barranco and Sen. Anthony M. Bucco, both of whom were on hand.

The mayor said all are ready to help Morristown whenever needed and that Barranco even shows up at town meetings.

Referring to Dunn, Dougherty said:

“There are just certain Republicans – they show up at everything.”

Dunn said one big attribute of Morristown is accessibility.

Seniors, for instance, may find it relatively easy to get to her office. Moreover, the town and its abundance of restaurants draws people from throughout the county.

Dunn said she prides herself on being a “listener,” something she said she plans to keep on doing.

Chris Russo, a town councilman, played down any talk of politics, claiming that he tries to be as bipartisan as possible.

And with that in mind, Russo said:

“This is a big day.”