Mapp Wins Big In Primary

Mayor Sharon Robinson-Briggs declared she was “on a mission from God” in seeking a third term, but voters who didn’t get the memo from on high gave Councilman Adrian Mapp a decisive 62 percent win in Tuesday’s Democratic Primary.

Unofficial results were 2,789 for Mapp and 1,746 for Robinson-Briggs.

Happiness reigned in Democratic Party headquarters on Front Street when the tallies came in. Members of Mapp’s New Democratic Club joined forces with the Regular Democratic Organization after he was given the party line in March.  Mapp thanked all, especially his family, who saw him through many political changes leading up to the primary victory. He said the trials and tribulations were “all for the purpose of getting here, to this point in time.”

“Plainfield is in need of change,” he said, promising to fulfill his campaign mantra of “One Plainfield, One Future.”

“I will be the mayor for all of Plainfield, those who supported me and those who didn’t,” Mapp said. My door is open to every citizen in every ward.”

 

Robinson-Briggs, who had the party’s backing in 2005 and 2009, had been campaigning for re-election since last fall in expectation of receiving the line again. Her rejection by Union County Democratic Chairman Charlotte DeFilippo just before the April 1 primary filing date left her scrambling for support.  Her local slate consisted of herself and three city committee candidates. A visit from Rev. Al Sharpton on May 24 was geared toward vindicating her  use of $20,000 for a 2010 town meeting to fight gangs and gun violence, but that and the May 22 launch of a Facebook page appeared to be too little, too late.

Her husband, Peter Briggs, came to speak to Mapp privately after the results came in, but the mayor remained in her Watchung Avenue headquarters.  Asked for a comment there, she said, “I have enjoyed serving the people of Plainfield and will enjoy doing so after Dec. 31, but in a different capacity.”

Assemblyman Jerry Green, D-22, who is also the Plainfield Democratic Party chairman, announced a slate of school board candidates for the November election, consisting of a ”black female, a Latino (sic), and a white male gay.” They were named as Deborah Clarke, Anabella Melgar and Richard Lear.

(Plaintalker did not get filings Tuesday from the Union County Clerk’s office for school board or for independents for mayor or Fourth Ward, but will get them as soon as possible.)

In November, Mapp will face Republican Sandy Spector and any independents who file, but a Democratic primary win in Plainfield is considered tantamount to success in the general election.

--Bernice