Vera Greaves emerged as the temporary appointee to fill the vacant First and Fourth Ward at-large seat, after an attempt by Councilwoman Rebecca Williams to reject all three names – Greaves, The Rev. Jason Greer and Union County Police Officer Willie Faulks - offered by the Democratic City Committee. Williams said not all of the three nominees were qualified to vote when their names were submitted to the governing body at the Jan. 10 agenda session.
After a lengthy discussion, a motion to reject the list failed. Councilman William Reid then nominated Greer to fill the vacancy, seconded by Councilwoman Bridget Rivers. Councilman Cory Storch nominated Vera Greaves, though he said he was “personally dissatisfied with the process.”
“We deserve a lot better than to have two out of three candidates not registered when Chairman Jerry Green selected them,” Storch said, recalling a time when candidates were vetted by the committee. “The law is telling us we are stuck with this process.”
Storch said, “We need to put democracy with a small “d” back in the party.”
Councilman Adrian Mapp seconded Greaves’ nomination. A roll call vote on Greer failed, 3-3, with Storch, Mapp and Williams voting “no” and Reid, Rivers and Council President Annie McWilliams voting”yes.” The vote on Greaves was 4-2 in favor, with Reid and Rivers voting “no” and Storch, Williams, Mapp and McWillliams voting “yes.”
McWilliams asked Greaves whether she would like to be sworn in on the spot, but she declined in favor of being sworn in later today in the City Clerk’s office.
“I will do my best to represent both wards,” Greaves said after thanking the council for the vote.
Greaves will serve until the next general election, but may face a challenge in the June primary and if someone else wins the November election, that person will take the seat immediately and also serve the subsequent four-year term starting Jan. 1, 2012.
--Bernice
Sheep. Dissent kills us and so does cordiality. When push comes to shove the Council stands for nothing.
ReplyDeleteBernice. Correction:Greaves as a temporary appoint can only serve until the General election. For the primary and the General election there ha to be two different electins: 1-to selected Carter's replacedment until the end of her term 1/1/12, and a second election to select a Nominee/Candidate for a new 4 year. term.
ReplyDeleteThe Council's actions indicate that POLITICS not DEMOCRACY ruea.
Huh? We have the head of the PDCC nominating people who were not registered to vote or registered Democrats at the time of the nominiation? Is that what I am reading?
ReplyDeleteNice to know that loyalty to the Democratic Party in Plainfield pays off - NOT.
I am certain Ms. Greaves, now Councilwoman Greaves, did not want to be sworn in that evening because she wanted her puppet master Jerry Green to swear her in. So now we have three Jerry Green puppets -Reid, Rivers and Greaves.
ReplyDeleteSo now the council consists of Rebecca Williams, Cory Storch, Annie McWilliams, Adrian Mapp, Jerry William Green, Jerry Bridget Green, and Jerry Vera Green.
How nice . . .
Bernice,
ReplyDeleteAs I stated on the record, I think that a legal opinion by a disinterested expert (NOT the Acting Corporation Counsel and Acting City Administrator acting on behalf of the administration) is in order. However, my concern was that if we didn't vote on a temporary replacement, the issue would go back to the PDCC, and Chairman Green would get another attempt at his version of "democracy." Somehow, he must believe that it is in his interest to obfuscate and prolong this process. I think the voters of Plainfield--frankly, the voters in New Jersey--deserve some real clarification on the process. This was always my point--NOT to disparage any individual--all three nominated seem to be fine individuals. I only know one of the three--it would have been nice, as a member of the Executive Committee of the PDCC, to have been given the names and resumes of the candidates in advance of the meeting. Chairman Green said that 6 individuals had come forward, and 4 gave him resumes. The Executive Committee was not any information on these individuals--no resumes, NOTHING. I didn't even know who the candidates were more than 2 hours before the sham vote, nor was I given the opportunity to ask questions of the candidates. I certainly would have asked the basic question of whether they were Democrats, and I would have had time to have Chairman Green provide proof of this. To paraphrase, "what did the Chairman know, and when did he know it?" According to how the mayor's Acting Corporation Counsel and Acting City Administrator interpreted the statute, though, it doesn't matter--anyone, even a non-registered voter, can be put into a vacant city council seat. But, it begs the question: why did Chairman Green RUSH to have these individuals run down to the county to register as Democrats??? We need the state to provide clarity. Otherwise, "politics" will always come into play, as it did in this case.
Rebecca
I am really concerned that the council has to do the bidding of jerry green even against their better judgement!
ReplyDeleteBlackdog, you're assuming that the Council has a better judgment in the first place!
ReplyDeleteThere is always going to be a primary and general election, voters should start to seriously use their right to vote to inform these politicians that they were elected to work for the people and not for their back room deals. When they come up for reelection, VOTE THEM OUT. Stop rubber stamping them because they have always held that position or because they are on the party line, try someone new until you get someone with real morals.
ReplyDelete"Real morals" (whatever you mean by that) is no substitute for intelligence and integrity. Alas, that's a rare combination in politics at all levels.
ReplyDeleteI am hopeful that Vera has been appointed...
ReplyDeletefor many reasons asa follows:
1. She supports stopping the violence
2. she involves herself with the youth and is never too busy to talk to them!!!
3. She actually loves her neighborhood and all the people in it both good and bad!!!
4. She agrees that the (part time) status for which others have complained in the past is not the proper attitude for any Official to hold...This may be a part time as far as money is concerned, but Plainfield needs leadership with a FULL TIME mindset... if not we are doomed!!!