LWV Forum Draws Large Crowd

LWV Moderator Marlene Sincaglia and mayoral candidates D. Scott Belin, Adrian Mapp, Mustapha Muhammad and Sandy Spector

(While I was on the phone with my daughter in Seattle Wednesday night, Dr. Yood filed a fairly complete summary of the goings-on at the Plainfield League of Women Voters candidates' forum. My blog post will also be an overview. The meeting was taped and residents are promised it will be on local cable Friday night or Saturday morning.) 

About 125 residents turned out Wednesday night for the last of three candidates' forums for the Nov. 5 general election. The Plainfield League of Women Voters hosted the meeting at Emerson School. 

4th Ward City Council, four-year term
Incumbent Democrat Bridget Rivers and Republican Barbara Johnson are on the ballot, but Johnson was absent Wednesday. Neither provided answers to LWV questions published here, but Rivers was permitted to read a statement at the forum.

Board of Education, three three-year seats 
This portion could be sub-titled "Fumbles and Zingers," as some candidates seemed unprepared and, as Dr. Yood noted, passed or gave generic responses to audience questions read by moderator Marlene Sincaglia of the Berkeley Heights LWV. Incumbents Wilma Campbell, with nine years' tenure, and Frederick Moore with a year of service had the edge in answering questions about board responsibilities. Their running mate, David Rutherford, joined Campbell in tossing barbs at the slate Democratic party chairman Jerry Green announced generically on June 4 as a ”black female, a Latino, and a white male gay.”. By coincidence, just as Green walked into the meeting, Campbell was declaring, "The Green team would not have a clue about education." 
Of the three, Deborah Clarke, Anabella Melgar and Richard Lear, only Lear presented information gleaned from the state Department of Education on test scores and other indications of a need for change on the board. But Campbell refuted his statistics, saying they were outdated, and cited an increased graduation rate and other numbers as proof of district improvement.

Rutherford noted Green's slate had little or no prior attendance at board meetings and asked, "Would you want a deacon who never attended a service?"

'If they are allowed to win, this comedy will become a tragedy," Rutherford said.

Lear brought up a state comptroller report that questioned $59,000 in legal bills and said the district pays $71 per pupil in legal fees while the state average is $36.

"Au contraire!" Campbell thundered, defending the board.

"People, wake up - the children are watching," she said, calling the rival slate "a motley crew."

Campbell's slate is backed by her husband, John, who is also backing their son John for an Assembly seat in District 22, where Green is seeking re-election.

Mayoral seat, four-year term 

Independents Mustapha Muhammad and D. Scott Belin are challenging Democrat Adrian Mapp and Republican Sandy Spector in the mayoral race. Mapp defeated incumbent Mayor Sharon Robinson-Briggs in the June primary, setting the stage for a new administration after her eight-year tenure.

All four contenders have been campaigning for months. Mapp stressed his experience as a councilman and freeholder Wednesday, while Belin and Muhammad said they are lifelong Plainfielders and Spector cited a need for bipartisanship in the city. The forum was heavy on slogans: Muhammad's "New Beginning," Mapp's "One Plainfield" and Belin's "Put Plainfield First." In her call for bipartisanship in a place where Democrats now outnumber Republicans 15 to 1, Spector said, "Open the doors, open the windows, open the curtain."

Perhaps the top issue is what will become of the former Muhlenberg Regional Medical Center campus, which has only a satellite emergency room since the hospital closed five years ago. JFK Health Systems has proposed a 600-unit apartment complex on the site and the city recently approved its own study of possible uses for the site. While all rejected the apartment development, the candidates differed on what should happen at the site. Belin said it is in limbo, but he wants to "leverage the fact that they do owe us money," referring to a possible tax liability on the property.

"The tax hammer we can use at any time," Mapp said, suggesting development of something like the Summit Medical Group, though detecting "no desire on the part of the owners to have the facility provide medical service."

Muhammad said the city needs transparency on the subject, as he believes there is privileged information on the issue that "doesn't get beyond a select few."

On the subject of bringing new business to the city, Mapp said he will "market the city of Plainfield like it has never been marketed before" and vowed to hire a deputy economic director.

Spector agreed on the need for an in-house economic director.

Belin said for change, "The first step is to elect me."

Muhammad said the key was "unity in the community."

On how to halt the foreclosure rate, Belin said it was not the mayor's job.

"The mayor's not a banker," he said.

Mapp agreed that the administration can't stop foreclosures, but can provide advice that can help people.

Muhammad concurred on the need for information and so did Spector, saying, "Information is power."

For full coverage, Plaintalker hopes voters will look for the forum to appear on Channel 96 or 34  as city Media Manager Lamar Mackson pledged. Polls will be open from 6 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Nov. 5. Winners will take office on Jan. 1.