Effective, Efficient, and Responsive Government for Morris County
We believe in a Morris County that is welcoming, inclusive, and built on a foundation of strong, collaborative leadership. We’re running because we want to make a positive impact and improve the quality of life for all our neighbors.
Max Blum
Candidate for Morris County Commissioner – Public Service Professional, Lifelong New Jersey Resident
Max Blum is a lifelong resident of New Jersey. He grew up in Westfield and currently lives in Rockaway with his young family. Max got started in politics in 2016 at the height of the Presidential election of that year and has since gone on to work on local, county, and statewide elections doing all kinds of work from organizing to fundraising, and even managing some of the most historic campaigns this state has seen.
Since 2023, Max has worked in the State Legislature, serving as the last ever chief of staff for former Governor Richard Codey as he finished an historic 50 year career. He currently serves as chief of staff for Assemblywoman Alixon Collazos-Gill, a freshman member of the Assembly who is running for re-election in 2025.
In a time where we are facing unnecessary budget cuts from the Trump Administration, Max is ready to hold his opponents accountable for their inaction against President Trump and Elon Musk. He is also committed to addressing food insecurity in our state.
“I know that one day my son will come home from school and he will ask me about this moment in our country’s history and I didn’t know what I was going to tell him. Now that I am running for office, when he finally asks me about the second Trump presidency, I will tell him that his father did the right thing and stood up for his future.”
After working to elect the right candidates and working for New Jerseyans who have committed their lives to public service, Max stands ready to serve the state that he has called home his whole life.
Marie DeVenezia
Candidate for Morris County Commissioner – Four-term Boonton Council Member, Lifelong Morris County Resident
As a lifelong resident of Morris County, Marie DeVenezia has seen it become increasingly suburban and more densely populated. One of the greatest challenges facing us in the next 50 years will be managing the redevelopment of corporate office parks to mixed-use housing.
A graduate of Mountain Lakes High School and Montclair State University and a 36-year resident of Boonton, she has dedicated her career to public service and local economic development.
DeVenezia is serving her fourth term as a Boonton Council Member. She has demonstrated a commitment to the community through various roles, including Chair of the Darress Theater Committee, and her work on the Economic Development Committee, Police Committee, and Planning Board. Her leadership helped secure more than $2 million in grant funding for parks and historic preservation projects.
DeVenezia is also an active board member of Norwescap, helping create pathways for individuals and families to achieve their hopes and dreams. In recognition of her outstanding service, she was awarded the “Dr. Edina Renfro-Michel Community Service Award” by the Morris County Democratic Committee in 2024.
“I’m running for Morris County Commissioner because I believe in the power of local action to make real change.”
Jocelyn Mathiasen
Candidate for Morris County Commissioner – Three-term Chatham Borough Council Member, Expert in Local Government Operations
Jocelyn Mathiasen is an expert in local government management and serves as a consultant to towns, cities, and counties around the country on how to improve their operations. Locally, she is a 3-term member of the Chatham Borough Council who has helped modernize the Borough’s operations, reduce costs, and improve transparency and communications. She holds a Master of Public Policy from Harvard’s Kennedy School of Government and a BA in Government from Oberlin College.
“I got into politics in 2017 in part because I saw a lot of opportunities to use my expertise to help my home town operate better and more efficiently.” she said. In Chatham Borough, Mathiasen’s signature accomplishment was a complete overhaul of the city’s garbage collection program, which resulted in lower costs for residents and safer, more efficient services for all. “I looked at what was being done in other states and knew we had a lot of room to improve.” Ms. Mathiasen is in her seventh year serving on the Borough’s budget and finance committee. Thanks to smart decisions and good planning by that committee, the Borough remains a AAA rated community and is on a path becoming debt free.
While a lifelong Democrat, Mathiasen has worked for and with people of all parties to help get things done, and focuses on good policy and good management above ideology. In 2024 she joined with Republican Nicolas Platt of Harding in lobbying for changes to the proposed affordable housing law. “I believe in affordable housing, but I think we get better results when we put experts in a room together with reasonable people of both parties to come up with good policies.” This advocacy resulted in some significant improvements to the law, although Mathiasen argues that it still fell far short of the mark.
What does the County do?
Most people don’t know that the Morris County Commissioners:
- Decide how to spend a budget of more than $370,000,000 every year
- Oversee most social services related to health, nutrition, at-risk youth, senior citizens, and homelessness
- Review major development projects for their stormwater and flooding impacts
- Train and support many of our first responders
Why vote for us?
We need representatives from both parties on the Commission to ensure that this important job is done
well and in the interests of all Morris County residents.
End single-party rule
Decades of single-party rule at the County level has eroded accountability and led to critical ethical questions. We will demand full transparency for every contract awarded and dollar spent
Reduce costs and lower taxes
The County spends a billion dollars every three years, and despite what they imply, the amount goes up every year. We will seek real innovation that can reduce costs and lower taxes
Protect our social services
Commissioners are in denial about crises facing the County that will lead to massive cuts in social services—services that they oversee. We will look out for the most vulnerable to protect senior services, healthcare options, and food programs
Improved Development
The County has become addicted to
development to fund the government while taking no role in shaping what is and isn’t built. We will fight massive luxury apartment
developments while seeking more options for young families and senior citizens