On Primary Filings

Primary filing day was once a busy time in newsrooms. Each reporter had to call several municipal clerks to get the results and write up any significant contests that emerged. Apparently this is no longer so, as a check of online media after the April 1 primary filing deadline turned up no report on Plainfield.

The Asbury Park Press had a traditional town-by-town accounting of filers and the weekly Westfield Leader had the kind of roundup that used to be the norm (see here).

So what does it mean? Plainfield voters who didn't read Plaintalker's report will find out who is on the ballot eventually and those who filed for mayor and Fourth Ward will be campaigning between now and June 4. It just seems like a loss for the public not to have this information in the dailies as in the past. Voter turnout here tends to be low anyway, even for primaries that are considered to be tantamount to victory in the November general election.

The winner of the Democratic primary will have a Republican contender along with any independents who file June 4. The increasing lack of interest in covering municipal government will present a challenge to candidates and will make forums such as those held by the Plainfield League of Women Voters even more important both to candidates and voters.

June 4 is also the filing date for school board candidates, now that the election has moved from April to November. Candidates must file with Union County Clerk Joanne Rajoppi. Incumbents whose terms are up this year are Wilma Campbell, Renata Hernandez and appointee Frederick D. Moore Sr.

Moore is the fifth person to hold the seat won three years ago by Rasheed Abdul-Haqq. Abdul-Haqq had to vacate his seat following passage of legislation barring those with criminal records from serving on school boards, even though after his 1968 offense he became a community activist and advocate for education.

After he left, the board appointed Susan Phifer to fill the vacancy. When she resigned, the board appointed Keisha Edwards, who did not seek the unexpired term in the next school board election, but ran for and won a full three-year term. Delois Dameron won the unexpired seat, but soon resigned, and the board appointed Moore.

--Bernice


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