Candidates for Council Vacancy to be Discussed Monday

After Kevin Gsell resigned from Morristown town council on July 8, the countdown began for the process of filling his seat. 

“Kevin Gsell resigned his position because he bought a house in Morris Township,” said Matt Stechauner, Morristown Town Clerk. He added that according to vacancy law, “the Morristown Democratic Committee needs to provide three names to the town council. They have to do that within 15 days. The council has 30 days from when the vacancy occurs to name somebody to the council from those three names.”

On Tuesday, Mary Dougherty, chair of the Morristown Democratic Committee, sent Stechauner the three names:

• Justin Davis
• Michael Elms
• Rosary Lescohier

“The Morristown Democratic Committee is confident that any of the above candidates will fill the vacancy with professionalism, respect and act in good faith on behalf of all citizens of Morristown,” said Dougherty to Stechauner.

Stechauner posted a notice of a special council meeting to take place on Monday at 7 p.m. at town hall at which the members will discuss the appointments to fill the vacancy. "Formal action may be taken at this meeting," said the notice.

Here’s a look at the three candidates:

Justin Davis:

• Current Democratic Committee Member. He and his wife, Emma have lived in Morristown for four years and they have a son who is almost 2 years old and are expecting another baby in September.  
• He has been the Deputy Chief of Staff to State Senator Richard J. Codey’s since 2010. Before then, he was a legislative aide to the Senate President’s Office, an administrator to Governor Codey’s Transition Office and assistant to the Deputy Chief of Staff for the Office of the Governor.
• He received a B.A. Political Science and Minor Business Management from Drew University.

Michael Elms

• He and his wife have lived in Morristown since 2003, they have three children: Mila 6, Weston & Oliver 4. 
• Elms recently won the Primary race for council after Gsell dropped out of the Primaries. He will be on the November Ballot to fill this vacant spot as there is no other candidate running for this seat. 
• He’s been the vice chair of the Morristown Parking Authority since 2009 and was on the Morristown Board of Adjustment from 2004-2008.
• Elms is a Residential and Commercial Realtor
• He Graduated Boston College with a B.S. in Marketing/Computer Science. 
• He has been part of the Morristown Rotary since 2004 and is an Active Triathlete.

Rosary Lescohler

• She and her husband Bill have been Morristown Residents for 15 years and Morris County Residents for 40+ years. Rosary is a volunteer and supports Democrats and she’s knowledgeable on local issues.
• She created and maintains the website for the Morris County Democratic Committee and Democratic Candidates
• Since 2004, she freelances web sites for small businesses and non-profits, such as Homeless Solutions, Inc.; Teen Pride; Morristown Meals on Wheels; First Call for Help; Pathway to Work (Neighborhood House)
• Before that, she was a webmaster and email coordinator for the Archdiocese of Newark
• Archdiocese of Newark, involved in public relations: Web and Newsletter Editor and Designer and a teacher at Elementary and Secondary Schools in New Jersey.
• She received a Bachelor of Arts in History from the College of Saint Elizabeth, Convent Station and 40 masters credits in history and education from Fairleigh Dickinson University, Madison and Montclair State College.

Related Patch Articles:

• Morristown Councilman's Resignation: "Pleasure Working with You"
• Kevin Gsell Resigns from Morristown Council
• Morristown Primaries: Meet Michael Elms
• Team Dougherty Wins Democratic Primary
• Judge OKs Candidate to Replace Gsell in Morristown Primary