Candidates Share Views at NAACP Forum

Incumbent Councilman Rashid Burney touted his independence, Rebecca Williams cited her long campaign and civic involvement and former Councilman Don Davis named his constituency service at a forum where each is seeking a four-year City Council seat representing the Second and Third wards.

The Plainfield Branch NAACP sponsored the forum, which was held at Whitney Allen Young Apartments on May 16. The candidates made opening and closing remarks and answered questions from the floor before an audience of about 40 people.

Although he received the Democratic Party line just before the April filing date for the June primary, Burney said he thinks for himself. He said he backed Barack Obama for president early on, while the Democrats were still solidly behind Hillary Clinton. He also voted against “Music in the Plaza,” a pet project of Mayor Sharon Robinson-Briggs, because, he said, he personally spoke to merchants regarding the effectiveness of the event in attracting business and found it lacking.

Having successfully guided campaigns that put several New Democrat candidates on the City Council, Williams said, “I know how to get things done.”

Once elected, the New Democrats became titular members of the Regular Democratic Organization of Union County, but several, especially Councilman Adrian Mapp, have retained their independence and often challenge the administration.

Davis served a four-year term on the council, but lost a re-election bid in 2008 to Mapp. He said he has taken all the Rutgers courses necessary to become a certified municipal official.

Among the questions:

Moderator George Gore asked candidates how many were NAACP members and whether they would attend meetings and give updates if elected. Burney held up his membership card in response. Williams said her check to the Plainfield group was never cashed. Davis said he would respond “100 percent” to the invitation to meet with the group.

On their opinions of Gov. Chris Christie’s budget, Williams said as a professor she is a member of the NJEA and would march with the union, which is facing stiff pressure from Christie to give concessions. Davis called Christie’s budget moves “devastating” to the city and said, “We don’t need outside interests.” Burney said $5 to $8 million has been cut from the city’s budget and asked why “people who make millions-plus” were not feeling the pain.

Asked whether they thought primaries were important, all agreed they are, with Williams calling a contested primary “the sign of a healthy party.” Davis and Burney both stressed the need to work together after the primary.

On changes needed to the Plainfield Municipal Utilities Authority, Williams called for commissioners to serve “with no benefits and no stipend” as true volunteers. She also wants the authority’s services to be brought back under city control. Davis called the Rock Avenue transfer station “one of the greatest assets” of the authority and called for greater use of the facility by other municipalities. Burney said as council president last year, he called for curbs on travel expenses and other spending and had a meeting with PMUA officials that resulted in a six-point agreement on reforms.

When Gore asked candidates, “What do you feel the City Council is dong wrong?” Williams said the council and mayor should resolve the issues between a volunteer youth baseball league and a city-run league. She said she favors keeping the volunteer league and not creating another bureaucracy by having a city league. Davis said what is wrong is “The council fighting the council, the council fighting the mayor and the mayor fighting the council.

“Fighting over petty issues will get us nowhere,” he said.

Burney said one of his frustrations as a council member was that the governing body should be spending time on strategic issues. He named his work in creating the Shade Tree Commission legislation as an example.

The candidates agreed that better code enforcement could ward off another situation such as that in which one owner acquired 26 apartment buildings and then allegedly let them decline. Burney called for “pro-active enforcement” before things get bad, while Williams said the council’s repeal of the Safe Homes initiative should be reversed. Davis said stricter fines could help.

Asked whether they would help the Fourth Ward, Burney said he would work with all his colleagues and called the Fourth Ward an “untapped resource.” Davis said Fourth Ward Councilwoman Bridget Rivers is his campaign manager and he will definitely work with her. Williams said she has worked with Rivers and her sister, former Councilwoman Joanne Hollis.

“Our city is really one city,” she said.

On their opinion of “negative bloggers” and Courier News reports that allegedly portray the city as “unsafe and mismanaged,” Williams said she is a member of the ACLU and will vociferously work for First Amendment rights. As print media dwindles, she said, blogs have taken over. Davis said the city needs its own newspaper. Burney said, “We have to come to reality. This is the future. We have to make sure our own point of view is heard also.”

Burney and Williams have blogs of their own, as do Councilman Cory Storch and Council President Annie McWilliams.

In closing, Burney cited his experience as a corporate manager and his council accomplishments, including creation of the Shade Tree Commission, legislation for domestic partner benefits and a Halloween safety campaign. Davis said Plainfield is at a crossroads and must be moved forward. He cited his 20 years’ experience as owner of a vacuum cleaner company and his status as a certified government agent.

“With your support and your guidance, I will be your voice,” he said.

“I’m a fighter,” Williams said. “I was brought up to be a fighter.”

Williams said the Second and Third Ward “needs someone more responsive to Plainfield.”

Although major crime is down, she said, burglaries and home invasions are up. She said she would insist that the administration adhere to budgetary timelines and advocated development of a cultural, educational and sports complex in the city.

The primary is June 8. Polls will be open from 6 a.m. to 8 p.m. The Democratic winner will face Republican challenger Jim Pivnichny in the Nov. 2 general election. The First Ward City Council seat will also be on the November ballot, with incumbent Councilman William Reid and Republican Sean Alfred vying for the seat.

--Bernice Paglia