Screen shot of John Campbell on Facebook
Campbell ran for a District 22 Assembly seat in 2013 as a Republican and made a respectable showing for a newcomer. See 2013 District 22 results here. He is the son of Plainfield Board of Eeducation President Wilma Campbell and former Councilman John Campbell Sr., who left elective office saying he would rather be "kingmaker" than king. He has since backed successful candidates for council and school board and recently was appointed a school board member himself.So John Campbell the younger - who doesn't use "Jr." - has politics in the blood. School board elections are supposed to be nonpartisan, but if the Campbell clan files a school board slate on July 27, young John Campbell's run may benefit from extra campaign energy.
Norman E. Ortega at a City Council meeting
Ortega ran for the school board in 2014 on a slate backed by Democratic Party Chairman Jerry Green. In 2010, he was an original member of the Plainfield Advisory Commission on Hispanic Affairs, which soon disbanded and was only reorganized in 2014. He is involved in Plainfield Latino and the Tri-County Latino Coalition of New Jersey. For the record, I have had disputes with Norman Ortega.
Whether either "independent" is truly independent or merely a power broker's sub rosa candidate remains to be seen.
--Bernice
I'm sure this news makes Jerry Green happy and lord knows after Tuesdays spanking he needs all the good news he can get.
ReplyDeleteWhen you look at this man's parents and how they have messed up the Plainfield BOE, I'm not sure I trust him to be better than his parents. I definitely don't trust Wilma and after her husband was appointed to the BOE, I have even less trust and know they will waste taxpayer money and not serve the needs of our children.
ReplyDeleteI wonder who Jerry will back? (He'll do it quietly, of course!)
ReplyDeleteIt was interesting to see John Sr and Wilma feasting and celebrating at Mayor Mapp's campaign headquarters knowing all along they planned to stab him in the back by running their son against his candidate. There are still snakes in politics. The City of Plainfield have clearly voted their disgust of the hateful nastiness on the Green side. Just don't sleep because John Jr. is young. He still has to obey his parents and their judgment seems to be questionable at best.
ReplyDeleteDo you know what the deadline is for filing to run as an independent candidate? Think before you start name calling. You are also a part of the population in Plainfield that spreads negativity. Your knowledge and judgment is questionable at best.
DeleteThe opportunity to run for public office is open to anyone and everyone. Because you know someone that is running doesn’t mean you shouldn’t or can’t run against that person. John senior doesn’t try to hide his contempt for Cory as being a council member, so this move should not come as a surprise. Here’s some food for thought, maybe he feels he can better serve the 2nd ward and Plainfield and that’s the reason he’s running. Whatever happen to the spirit of competition? Cory’s been on the council for 3 terms (12 years) but during this primary campaign I heard very little of his achievements.
DeleteBefore you start with the Campbells are backstabbers by coming to the headquarters, keep in mind, Cory is running not Mayor Mapp, two different people. If John Campbell was to run and win the 2nd ward what makes you think he wouldn’t work with the Mayor to help continue his progress?
Betcha Jerry is secretly backing them!
ReplyDeleteA petition is filed prior to election results. Potential independent candidates do not know who the primary winners will be. If Ecke and Hockaday won many of these commenters would be happy that independents filed. I truly doubt that Green is backing Campbell, Much more likely that he is backing Norman Ortega. 11:14, you obviously are politically ignorant, or just enjoy an opportunity to make nasty comments against Campbells.
ReplyDeleteWhy bother explaining the process to folks with an agenda, and who are unable to figure anything out themselves
DeleteRight. These commenters are no different than Jerry Green. They also think they are supposed to control who runs and who doesn't. If someone exercises their right to run they are backstabbers. What hypocrites!
DeleteI heard about these comments, but now that I am here reading them for myself, let me respond. No. I am not being backed by any powerbroker and it will remain that way. I'm running because I strictly believe residents are tired of being treated like pawns in the same game that’s preventing our city from prospering. I also believe our city will be even better if its diversity is included and represented in our municipal government.
ReplyDeleteAll say that before election, then they become the agent of the machine, after their elected, what makes you different norm?
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