Seven Seek Charter Commission Seats

Seven people met a 4 p.m. deadline today to run for five seats on the proposed Charter Study Commission.

They are Mary E. Burgwinkle, Jeanette Criscione, John Stewart, Ricky Allen Smiley, John R. Davis III, Marie L.Davis and Carrell E. Martin. The five who are elected on Nov. 6 will serve only if voters also agree to establish the commission.

The city's 1968 special charter was last studied by a committee that submitted a report in 1990. The City Council took no action on their findings and recommendations. See Plaintalker's post here.

The charter study question and the names of those seeking to serve on the commission will be added to an already lengthy ballot that for the first time will include candidates for the Board of Education, in addition to  City Council, Union County freeholder, Congressional District 12 and presidential candidates.

Locally, the City Council candidates are Democrat Tracey Brown and Independent Gloria Henriques for the citywide at-large seat, and Democratic incumbent Adrian Mapp, Republican Randy Bullock and Independent Tom Turner for the Third Ward. William Amirault has withdrawn as the Republican candidate for the citywide at-large seat.

School board candidates for three three-year terms are incumbents Keisha Edwards and Susan Phifer, as well as Jackie D. Coley, Mahogany Hendricks, Catherine Crittendon and Dollie S. Hamlin. Delois Dameron and Frederick D. Moore Sr. are vying for a one-year unexpired term.

--Bernice