LWV Forum Draws Crowd for BOE, Council Races

If the audience enthusiasm at Tuesday's candidates' forum is any indication, it will not look like an off-year election here on Nov. 3.

Four candidates each for the Board of Education and the City Council spoke at the forum held by the Plainfield League of Women Voters. The audience applauded repeatedly, despite a request to hold it until the end, and broke into applause and screams of delight when BOE candidate Richard Wyatt recited an inspirational poem.

Wyatt, John Campbell and Jackie Coley are all incumbents running as a slate. Coley is seeking a second three-year term and Campbell and Wyatt are recent appointees seeking full three-year terms. Emily Morgan is making her first run for a board seat. Voters must choose three to begin serving as of Jan. 1, 2016.

While some gave generic answers to questions from the audience, Campbell quipped that the answer to increasing parent involvement was "fry some nice chicken and fish." It was sort of a joke on himself, as he is well-known and sometimes criticized for his efficacious political fish fries.

"I have tried it, and it works," he said.

On what can be done for children struggling to get into college, Wyatt's answer was, "Put pressure on guidance counselors."

To get state officials to back full funding for Plainfield, Morgan said the district must organize and lobby legislators.

"They need to know we are going to hold to a standard in Plainfield," she said.

In her closing statement, Coley said serving on the board "is no longer new territory for me." She said the district has been taken off the Focus list and the graduation rate has increased.

"Families are coming back to Plainfield because they are hearing great things," she said.

Campbell also listed positive changes in closing, such as a new STEM school and a "home-grown" superintendent after several outsiders.

"I believe every child can be successful," Morgan said. "We can do better with the money we have."

Wyatt said he is the father of three and is not trying to get into politics. He said all can have a hand in making sure children succeed, and then launched into the recitation that brought down the house.

Organizers tried to clear the room for the next segment on the City Council, but the energized crowd took almost 10 minutes to stop congratulating the candidates and conversing about the forum.

The City Council candidates are incumbent Second Ward Councilman Cory Storch, a Democrat seeking a fourth term, and John Campbell, who ran for state Assembly as a Republican but is now an Independent challenging  Storch for a four-year term starting Jan. 1, 2016. (Campbell is the son of the BOE candidate John Campbell.) For the First & Fourth Ward at-large seat, former BOE candidate Norman E. Ortega is running as an Independent against Democrat Barry Goode, who is seeking elective office for the first time.

In his opening statement, Ortega said the role of the city is "to be a successful city for all residents."

Storch opened by saying Plainfield is "finally on the right track" for development, but said the missing ingredient is "a council that is cooperative with the mayor."

Goode pledged to fight hard for Plainfield and said he will seek sustainable solutions and an improved quality of life for all residents.

Campbell named impoverished seniors and "a business climate we can barely patronize' as among failures of the city and said the council "deserves a fighter who will fight for what's right."

The first question from the audience was "What are you going to do for the Latinos?" The city's Latino population shot up 67 percent between 2000 and 2010, counting in 2010 as 40.4 percent of its 49,808 residents.

Goode said he will treat each constituency the same.

"It's all one city," he said.

"A good question," Ortega said, "and that's why I'm here."

Storch said Latinos are not represented in city government, but are well-represented in the businesses downtown and in the population increase.He noted that the Economic Development director is Latino and the city has translators.

"This is your City Hall," he said, but added, "A lot of Latinos do not feel that way."

"I would argue that the Latino community is as much a part of our community as anyone else," Campbell said, complimenting their "sticktoitiveness and entrepreneurship."

On city budgets, Storch called for a council retreat where "measurable goals" would be set and then talking about what's right for the citizens instead of having a political struggle."

"I don't think we can settle for a tax increase," Campbell said, citing seniors who can't afford it.

Goode said it takes a great deal of experience to balance a budget.. Alluding to a "can't and won't" attitude, he said the issue is "How much goes where and why is it going there."

Ortega responded by listing several allegations against Mayor Adrian O. Mapp that were published on the Plainfieldlatino blog, regarding a North Avenue demolition, the Plainfield Bilingual Daycare Center and a liquor license. Alluding to recent Plainfield Advisory Committee on Hispanic Affairs events, he said,"Throwing little parties is not enough. He has to respect us."

Storch said people don't get development by just saying, "I want a Starbucks" or "I want a jazz club." He said there are many steps that must be understood, one being a tax abatement, or payment in lieu of taxes.

Ortega asked, "How many of you have seen or read the master plan?"
Someone in the audience yelled, "Have you?" Ortega said the city should publicize it.

"If you don't share,then you have resistance," he said."You've got to be careful - you can't give the house away."

In closing statements, Campbell deplored a Facebook post by a council member where he was shown at Republican functions and now labeled an Independent in sheep's clothing. He named several politicians who  had switched party labels

Goode said he has always been consistent. "I have not changed. In fact, I'm stronger than I have ever been."

Storch repeated his pitch for cooperation with the mayor, saying otherwise there will be no momentum.

Ortega traced his life in Plainfield and said his candidacy was a good thing, "not just for me but for all Latinos."

See more candidate information on the Plainfield LWV website and remember to vote on Nov. 3!