It is now less than seven weeks to the Nov. 3 general election. Voters will choose two City Council members, three school board members, three freeholders, a county clerk and two state Assembly representatives.
If you are a registered voter, you will soon receive a sample ballot that indicates your polling place as well as the list of candidates. If you are not registered, check the Union County web site for more information on filing and voting.
Some commenters on the blog have called for the removal of elected officials, singly or across the board. It doesn't work like that, unless an officeholder drops dead or goes to jail. And in case of a vacancy, it is initially the party, not the public, that fills it.
Your only chance to get rid of an official you don't like is by voting for and persuading enough others to vote for your choice. But all these candidates have terms. For Assembly, it's two years; for school board three, and for City Council and mayor, four years.
So you can holler all you want, but you may have to wait years for a chance to vote your particular rascal out.
The council's terms are spelled out on the city web site. Diane Toliver just took office this year, so she has three years to go. Rebecca Williams won re-election and also will be in office until Dec. 31, 2018. Mayor Adrian O. Mapp and Council President Bridget Rivers have terms to Dec. 31, 2017. The terms of Gloria Taylor and Tracey Brown expire at the end of 2016, so they will have to run next year to stay in office. And of course if you were paying attention, you know the Democratic Primary winners this year were Barry Goode and incumbent Cory Storch, who will be on the Nov. 3 ballot. As the law allows, candidates John Campbell and Norman E. Ortega filed as Independents in June and will be on the November ballot.
This year's council races are for the Second Ward (Storch, Campbell) and the First & Fourth Wards at-large (Goode and Ortega). Vera Greaves did not run for re-election, so she will definitely be off the council by Jan. 1, 2016.
Assemblyman Jerry Green has held his office since 1992 and is running for re-election with former Rahway Mayor James Kennedy. See your ballot for all the Assembly and freeholder candidate choices.
On the nine-member school board, three seats come up each year. Incumbent Jackie Coley is running for re-election. Among others who filed, John Campbell (the elder) and Richard Wyatt are now both appointees in unexpired terms who are seeking full three-year terms. The fourth candidate who filed is Emily Morgan.
Why should you think ahead and vote for those whom you believe will do the best job? On the school board, five of nine board members may control decision-making on spending about $180 million and affecting the lives of about 7,500 students. Four of seven City Council members have the sway over a $78 million budget and legislation affecting about 50,000 residents. These responsibilities require wisdom and a sense of stewardship if veniality and pettiness are to be avoided.
Get to know all the candidates and vote on Nov. 3 for the ones you find most promising. And on the first Tuesday after the first Monday in November next year and in the years after that, do the same.
--Bernice
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Thank you, Bernice. If more people payed attention to what those running for office are doing, we might have better government. I think watching the City Council meetings will help many make up their minds.
ReplyDeleteBob Bolmer
All they need to do beforehand is attend a City Council meeting and watch the thugs (a few) in action. Is this what we want representing our city? I hope not.
ReplyDeleteJim mcgreevy gets my vote
ReplyDeleteMost people don't know that they can vote for a Democrat and a Republican. You don't have to vote straight down the line as some people have been brainwashed to think that it's the only way to vote.
ReplyDeleteCitizens of Plainfield need to get off the sofa Election Day and vote to make a change in our city Goverment Many people complain about high taxes,the PMUA,and services,but they don't show up at the polls Election Day to vote.
ReplyDeleteCan you blame them when the only choices are the Campbell's or Greens people, oh wait the Campbell's are Greens people.
DeleteDon't be fooled by the Independent ticket because it is Jerry Green's ticket. Jerry Green dresses his candidates in sheep's clothing, but if you look closely you will see the wolf's fangs.
ReplyDeleteCampbell and Ortegà. More of Jerry Green.
You can vote for Bo Vastine. He may be a Republican, but he will stay out of Plainfield's way.
ReplyDeleteWe have had a Democrat who lives in Plainfield represent us since 1992. Look where we are?
Vote Democrat on a national level, but vote the person who makes the most sense on local level. They affect you more.
Why Plainfield keeps voting Jerry Green in is beyond me. He as been a representative and Plainfield resident for over 20 years, and this is it?