Freeholder Carl Lazzaro has secured the votes to be elected director of the county's governing board.
NEWTON -- Sussex County Freeholder Carl Lazzaro is poised to take over the top spot on the county's governing board.
Freeholder George Graham, who on Wednesday said he would not seek a second, one-year term as the board's director in 2017, said on Saturday that Lazzaro had secured the votes to succeed him.
"He's got my absolute support," Graham said of Lazzaro, a former Fredon Township mayor elected to the freeholder board with Graham's backing in November 2014.
Freeholder Jonathan Rose also said he will be voting for Lazzaro as director at the county's reorganization meeting Tuesday.
Republicans have held all five seats on the freeholder board since 2003.
Lazzaro, 73, is an ordained minister who, three decades ago, performed the marriage ceremony for outgoing U.S. Rep. Scott Garrett, R-5th District.
Garrett is leaving office after 14 years, following his Nov. 8 loss to Rep.-Elect Josh Gottheimer.
Lazzaro was the board's deputy director, under Graham, in 2016.
Interviewed Saturday by NJ Advance Media about his priorities, Lazzaro cited the ongoing search for a new county administrator, a post vacated in April upon the retirement of Stephen Gruchacz and currently held by an acting administrator, Ron Tappan.
Lazzaro also referenced an investigation, underway since last winter, by ex-State Comptroller Matthew Boxer, into problems that developed in a tri-county solar project, in which Sussex partnered with Morris and Somerset counties.
"We've got to finish up and close out the solar process," Lazzaro said.
Tuesday's meeting will begin at 6 p.m.
Graham, re-elected to a second, three-year term in November, will be sworn into office at the meeting.
Joining the board will be former Hopatcong Mayor Sylvia Petillo, elected last fall with Graham's support.
Freeholder Richard Vohden, often at odds in 2016 with the majority faction consisting of Graham, Lazzaro and Rose, declined to seek a third term.
Vohden attended his final freeholder meeting on Wednesday but is remaining on the New Jersey Highlands Council.
The board's longest-serving member, Freeholder Phil Crabb, is up for re-election in 2017.
Rob Jennings may be reached at rjennings@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @RobJenningsNJ. Find NJ.com on Facebook.