The June 4 Democratic primary election confirmed that party choice Adrian Mapp will be on the November ballot and that two-term incumbent Mayor Sharon Robinson-Briggs will leave office on Dec. 31. But there are many more outcomes to be realized in the political sphere over coming weeks and months.
On Monday, June 10, the Democratic City Committee will meet to choose a chairman for the next two years. Assemblyman Jerry Green has served in that role for many years, but with Union County Democratic Party Chairman Charlotte DeFilippo stepping down, Green has made it known that he would like to be her successor. The county committee meets on Tuesday to choose a new chairman.
The City Council also meets on Tuesday, which may cause members who are part of the Democratic City Committee to make a choice of which meeting to attend. They are Mapp, Rev. Tracey Brown and Vera Greaves. The council will still have a quorum of four members if the committee members attend the county meeting. The Plainfield Municipal Utilities Authority's board of commissioners also has a conflict Tuesday, but there all five members - Malcolm Dunn, Alex Toliver, Cecil Sanders, Carole Brokaw and Harold Mitchell - are on the Democratic City Committee. Their meeting is at 6 p.m., however, so they could make the county meeting if they wrap up their business quickly.
Farther down the road, someone will have to be appointed as of Jan. 1, 2014 to fill the vacancy created if, as expected, Mapp overcomes any November challenges to win the general election. The usual procedure is for the Democratic Party to offer three names and the council picks one. The appointee would then have to run in the June 2014 primary and, if successful, win the November 2014 election for the balance of the unexpired term, which ends Dec. 31, 2016.
Another topic of speculation is what the incumbent mayor will do after her term ends on Dec. 31. She has stated she will still be serving the city "in another capacity," which pundits are already guessing will be related somehow to the PMUA.
It all remains to be seen, along with appointments to boards and commissions and cabinet members for 2014. And of course, the outcome of the Assembly race this year with two Plainfielders on the ballot. Keep punditizing until all is known!
--Bernice
mmmmmmmmmmm... the PMUA... can someone say "PAY DIRT"?? Total payback for keeping the lips sealed?
ReplyDeleteShe will be the one person other than Charlotte to watch.
I hope Sharon get nothing for taking this city to the cleaners for over seven years. She deserves nothing and that is what she should get. Her political future should end now. Who in our fair ciy would trust Shady Sharonda on the PMUA. Maybe she wants a million dollar payout at some point, but she can keep dreaming.
ReplyDeleteIt figures that someone like Briggs would make her way toward the den of thieves that she worked so hard to protect during her reign of incompetence.
ReplyDeleteBernice, great coverage!
ReplyDeleteJust FYI . . . to the best of my knowledge Chairman Green is allowed to serve as both the City Committee and the County Committee Chairman.
One would assume that if he became the County Committee Chairman Adrian would become the City Committee leader . . . but you know what happens to one that assumes!
My bet is that he does both.
jim spear
I agree with you Jim. More than likely he will NOT give up ANY seats.
DeleteHowever ... I am hoping Jerry Green is at least beginning to learn what UNITY is all about.
If Chairman Green becomes chair of the County Dem Committee it doesn't affect his position as Plainfield Dem Committee chair. And if he were to vacate the latter position, the first vice-chair would serve instead--and the first vice-chair has to be someone of the opposite sex, according to the by-laws.
ReplyDelete