Political Moves Looming

On Monday, Union County Clerk Joanne Rajoppi is expected to announce official results for the June primary. While incumbent Councilman Cory Storch got 75 percent of the Second Ward vote in contrast to 25 percent for Charles Eke, the totals are much closer in the unofficial results for the First & Fourth Ward at-large contest, which last week showed 547 for Barry Goode and 517 for Steve Hockaday.

Storch and Goode ran on the Union County Progressive Democratic Organization slate and Eke and Hockaday were on the Regular Democratic Organization of Union County ticket. The RDO has until June 17 to seek a recount, but meanwhile on Monday night the chairmanship of the Plainfield Democratic City Committee is at stake. If  RDO chairman Jerry Green initiates a recount Monday, but then loses the chairmanship to Mayor Adrian O. Mapp or his nominee Monday night, would the county have to honor the recount request?

On Tuesday, the Plainfield City Committee will join those of other municipalities to choose a county chairman. Green has stated his intention to seek re-election as county chairman.

Meanwhile, over at the Plainfield Municipal Utilities Authority's meeting Tuesday night, will we find out the status of the new executive director? Is he still on board? Interim Executive Director Bryan Christiansen is heading the authority for the duration.

With the primary over (though not its aftermath), some folks are also undoubtedly thinking ahead to 2016, when the Third Ward and Citywide at-larges seats are up. It's never too early to start strategizing.

Today the term "political convictions" came to mind. No, not the conviction that follow a perp walk, the other political conviction, defined as a firmly held belief, a stance, a position. A lot of voters took a stand on June 2 and will have to hold firmly to their beliefs through the long months ahead.

--Bernice