On November 21, 1994, Forman was appointed by GovernorWilliam Weld to serve as Plymouth County Sheriff.[3] In 1996 he defeated Patricia Lawton in a special election to finish the term of former Sheriff Peter Flynn.[4] He was elected to his first full term in 1998; defeating Halifax Selectman Troy Garron.[5] Forman resigned as Sheriff less than a year later to join the Cellucci administration.[6]
Cellucci and Swift administrations
Forman joined the Cellucci administration as Deputy Secretary of Administration and Finance.[6] When Jane M. Swift succeeded Cellucci as Governor, she named Forman her Chief of Staff.[7] As Swift's Chief of Staff, Forman helped the acting Governor in her attempt to remove Christy Mihos and Jordan Levy from the Massachusetts Turnpike Authority board and with the shakeup at the Massachusetts Port Authority following the September 11 attacks. While Swift was on a "working maternity leave" following the birth of her twin daughters, Forman carried out many key duties of the Governor's office.[8]
Forman was fired by Swift on January 23, 2002.[9] Following his dismissal, he worked without pay to help Swift's running mate Patrick Guerriero prepare to face Jim Rappaport at the Republican Convention.[10]