Plainfield's political folk wisdom holds that in this heavily Democratic city, winning the June primary is tantamount to winning the November general election. If so, the balance of New Democrats versus Regular Democrats on the City Council will remain the same, with the party led by Chairman Jerry Green having the majority.
New Democrat incumbent Rebecca Williams beat Charles Eke, who had the party line for the Second & Third Ward at-large seat. With 7,694 registered Democrats in the two wards, Williams received 1,148 votes and Eke garnered 1,016. Two and a half hours after the polls closed, Union County's new online tally still showed one district outstanding, but the Plainfield city clerk's office gave the unofficial results as noted.
Political newcomer Diane Toliver won in the First Ward Democratic contest with 507 votes to 203 for Emmett Swan, a New Democrat also making his first bid for public office. Retired Police Captain Siddeeq El-Amin received 87 votes. The First Ward seat is currently held by William Reid, who announced earlier this year he was not seeking re-election. There are 3,051 registered Democrats in the First Ward, meaning the contest only brought out one-fourth of eligible voters.
In the Third Ward, appointee Gloria Taylor ran on the party line and overcame New Democrat Charles McRae, 568 to 514. Rasheed Abdul-Haqq trailed with 34 votes. Taylor was appointed to the unexpired term of Adrian O. Mapp, who won the mayoralty in November 2013 and took office on Jan. 1 for a four-year term. The turnout was 28 percent of the Third Ward's 3,822 registered Democrats.
As widely reported, Mapp won on the line last year and got words of support from Green, Taylor and others in January, but then Green turned on him in a mailer, saying he only put Mapp on the line under duress from former Union County Democratic Chairman Charlotte DeFilippo. Green is now county chairman in addition to being Plainfield's party leader and also serves as District 22 assemblyman. Mapp was formerly president of the New Democrats political club, a title now held by Williams.
The winning Democrats will face any independents that filed Tuesday, as well as Republicans in two races. Randy Bullock is the GOP contender against Williams and Charles A. Jones will be on the Republican line for the Third Ward in November.
Mapp is only six months into a four-year term and unless he can pick up support in coming years, his goal of re-branding the city and capitalizing on its new designation as a transit village may be a tough road to hoe. A Regular Democrat council majority cut two of his key staff positions out of the 2014 budget last month. To get things done in Plainfield, the adage goes, you must be able to "count to four" on the seven-member council.
--Bernice
well ... here's the good news.. Now Jerry's Dem's won't have to even pretend to care about things like the PMUA, cutting property taxes by growing business and cleaning the town up.. Now they can simply be honest and tell it like it is, that they are there to do what Jerry says.
ReplyDeleteTo get things done in Plainfield, the adage goes, you must be able to "count to four"
ReplyDeleteI would rephrase that: "To get your political hacks and give them $80,000+ jobs - you must be able to count to 4".
The Regular Democrats will not be rubber stamps like Storch and Williams are.
Thanks, Jerry. You're out in the next election.
DeleteInstead of people who want to bring positive change to Plainfield we get stuck with the Green Dems so jerry can make way more than 80k in his back room deals and continue to give jobs to every slimy person he know. So the corruption will continue and we'll all pay the price when our taxes keep skyrocketing. Unless ur working for green then maybe you'll get a million dollar payout for quiting
DeleteCharles Jones, you got my vote in November!
ReplyDeleteKS
Those who voted for Jerry's people will get what they voted for, but unfortunately they won't like what they get. We can work on getting Jerry out in the next election. I know I will.
ReplyDeletePity that this city is run by less than 2 thousand people.
ReplyDeleteI will be voting for a Randy Bullock. Chartse Eke you are a winner just look at the numbers. This is beautify. The New Dems are DOA
ReplyDeleteMayor Mapp with only 6 months in the people have spoken. If you don't change your ways you will be a one time Mayor,
ReplyDeleteThe City Council and Green need to pay attention. Green may be out in the next election if he doesn't start working with the mayor for positive change in this city. We know who the roadblocks are and so do you.
DeleteBob Bolmer
If 28 more people in the 3rd had voted Line E instead of A the balance would now be 3-3 with Brown as a swing vote. So the question is what made those 28 vote the way they did?
ReplyDeleteIssues? Nah - not that many actually follow the issues. It's just too hard for of all kinds of reasons. If you think issues decide elections you're delusional.
Personalities? You betcha! But whose? Jerry's? Most commenters blast JG at every opportunity and voted against his surrogates, but obviously not enough. How about those who are tepid about JG? Despite all the known negatives he is, after all, a legitimately powerful assembly figure. He's dispensed tons of jobs and contracts and has made a lot of life-long friends. He's very visible in the community and is a strong male presence in an environment without many of those (note the 6-1 aside in olddoc's blog) - don't discount that among traditional voters. And to many without power he represents hope. In God, in Obama, in Jerry we trust.
How was that countered by the New Dems? With consistently harsh, in your face, combative, nasty, ugly (did you see that green stain post card?), self-righteous rhetoric, often served up with a side of elitism. The effort was led by an openly gay woman whose personal style was often reflected in the campaign. That's fine to whip up a frenzy among the faithful but it's not calculated to win the hearts and minds of those on the fence.
Maybe next time we should try a different approach, one calculated to reach the middle 20%: those who don't read the blogs of attend council meetings; those who don't think like us, read like us or love like us. Maybe we can reach the 28 3rd Warders who just decided the balance of power in Plainfield.
A lot of what you said is valid, especially about issues. Your comments speak for themselves.
DeleteSome of it is very offensive and totaly false, like calling the New Dems combative, nasty, and ugly in the light of Jerry Green's ridiculous mailers, not to mention bringing Williams' sexual orientation into play.
Are you delusional? Rebecca Williams beat the pants off of Eke and Charles McCrae has nothing to be ashamed of, the 3rd ward was very close and the Green team should take heed.
DeleteRobin
"Openly gay" should not be an issue in this day and age.
DeleteGreat insight! Who are you?
DeleteIf voters keep pushing the same old button they will keep getting the same old results! I would like to know why we did not have at least 50% of the voters out yesterday? Where was everyone who wanted change ,lower taxes and a better Plainfield?
ReplyDeleteHere is the truth The people have spoken and only a few of you who blog everyday are upset. Now let's get past this and move the city forward
ReplyDeleteAhhhh...the homophobia begins again!
ReplyDelete"The effort was led by an openly gay woman whose personal style was often reflected in the campaign."
What does my sexual orientation have to do with anything? But you were right when you said "openly" gay. I am the only openly gay woman on the council.
Rebecca
But you are not the only gay women on the council, the other one is very well know in the hood to have had sexual relationships with members of the same sex. Like the river flows!
DeleteMapp gambled on Ron West and the New Dems couldn't handle the baggage.
ReplyDeleteWhat does Ron West have to do with anything? Or Adrian Mapp for that matter? Neither were running for anything that I can tell.
DeleteStop it!
There is a difference between Gay and curious. What does this have to do with anything. I am very sure Councilwomen Williams is proud of who she is. Come on people please.
ReplyDeleteHere we go again with the dumb name calling. Plainfield when are you going to get it.
ReplyDeleteanon 10:44 what election are you looking at certainly not Plainfield's. Rebecca beat the pants off of Eke. please go back and view the number's. Eke did a heck of job and if more people come out next year he will beat Storch for sure. As far as Rebecca's life style please don't start this. I personally do not like her ways but what she do in her bedroom is certainly her business.
ReplyDeleteExcuse me but the verb is "does" It should read "what she "does" in her bedroom is certainly her business. You are correct in saying that. Thank you.
DeleteLinda Carter was noticeably absent. She could have helped McRae if she wanted to. Self protection is the word of theday
ReplyDeleteLinda Carter is a flip flopper she goes with which ever the wind blows. She didn't help Mayor Mapp the first time ran against Mayor Briggs. and she didn't help the New Dems at all this time.
ReplyDeleteStop talking about the New Dems stick a fork in them they are DONE!!!! As far as freeholder Carter she forgot where she came from she started under the late great Mayor McWilliams whom started the New Democrats of Plainfield. Freeholder Carter had people bullet voting against Mayor Mapp in the past. Come on Let's keep our memory clean. I sure didn't forget.
ReplyDeleteIt was a MANDATE by the VOTER'S in PLAINFIELD for change and not the change that have been taking place this far. Mayor Mapp wake up.
ReplyDeleteExcuse me but the verb is "has" - not the change that "has" been taking place this far.
DeleteI am changing my party to Republican. Actually I just called union county to request a party affiliation change form. I am dumping the regular Democrats and the new Democrats. They both SUCK
ReplyDeleteTo Mr. Charles McRae. Allow me to say LOUD AND CLEAR - You, Mr. McRae earned and worked hard and well for every vote you earned. That was honest and ethical campaigning and I sincerely admire you for that!
ReplyDeleteNow as for Gloria TagalongJerry Taylor, she drank the Green Slime and ran with the Devil. She relied on the line and by the skin of her Jerry loyalty could've lost but was saved by the line by a small percentage.
Please be proud and I am hoping you will not give up on running again. There were less than 100 doors that you missed.
All the very best to you.
Confidentially speaking The same goes out to Mr. Charles Eke you only missed a100 doors. Keep your head up and next time knock on 200 doors more to take out Cory Storch. Charles Eke you are a hero.
ReplyDeleteHow pathetic it is that in a city of give or take 50K, only 3902 people showed up to vote. Disgraceful.
ReplyDelete