In the First & Fourth Ward at-large race, Goode received 993 votes to Norman E. Ortega's 310. Incumbent Second Ward Councilman Cory Storch fended off a challenge by John Campbell, 909 to 558.
Making his first try for elective office, Goode said Tuesday, "I went in with my good character and I came out with my good character."
He pledged to bring unity, "not buffoonery" to the council, where decorum has been an increasing concern of residents.
Barry Goode, Mayor Adrian O. Mapp, Cory Storch
Storch put a Superman logo on Mapp's chest for a victory photo. With Storch retaining his seat and Goode coming aboard on Jan. 1, Mapp will be closer in 2016 to having a majority on the governing body, where some of his key initiatives have met with adamant opposition since he took office in 2014. He will have two more chances next year, when the Third Ward and Citywide at-large seats are up for election.
Ortega campaigned on a new blog that frequently trashed Mapp, while claiming support of the Latino community. Campbell's slogan was "Young Bold Leadership," but Second Ward voters saw fit to give Storch a fourth term instead.
Of four candidates vying for three school board seats, newcomer Emily Morgan received 1,696 votes, second only to John Campbell Sr. with 1,711. Richard Wyatt received 1,538 votes and incumbent Jackie Coley trailed with 1,197. Although school board races are supposed to be nonpartisan, both Campbell and Assemblyman Jerry Green have fielded slates in recent years. Campbell's wife, Wilma, is president of the school board and both he and Wyatt became appointees this year on the run-up to the November election.
Morgan was backed by Mayor Adrian O. Mapp's team. She thanked supporters Tuesday, pledging to work for all 7,500 students but especially for improvement of the elementary schools.
Emily Morgan addresses the Mapp team
"It is no secret that there is need for change at the Board of Education," Mapp said, vowing to "be part of that change."
Official election results will be announced next week by Union County Clerk Joanne Rajoppi.
--Bernice
JERRY,JERRY, JERRY, WINS AGAIN !
ReplyDeleteCongratulations to all the winners. Has a new date been set for the Fall Harvest by the Campbell's yet?
ReplyDeleteCongratulations to Councilman Storch, Councilman-elect Goode and new Board of Ed member Emily Morgan. We are so desperately in need of strong leadership as we tackle many critical issues necessary to move Plainfield into a renewed era of civility, respect and prosperity for all of our citizens. Libby and I wish blessings and success -- and our support.
ReplyDeleteYesterday proved that we need a change from the Campbell school board. Wilma Campbell and Superintendent Anna Belin Pyles and school maintenance staff and even new school IT director Chris Payne were driving around trying to get the large size placards used by Morgan and Goode and Storch removed from school property. AJ drove around to various sites explaining the law to them. On election day, the school grounds are considered board of election property and as long as the material is 100 feet away it can be there. Anyone telling campaigns what to do such as what Belin Pyles and Wilma Campbell was doing is interfering with the election process. They backed down from their illegal stance once AJ spoke. The question is this, if school maintenance staff is being used for political purposes by the Campbells, isn't that illegal? If Anna Belin Pyles is supposed to be the superintendent, why is she coming out on election day to harass campaign volunteers?? She has to go.
ReplyDeleteGreat role model for our kids. It's no wonder our school system is in the gutter. Our own BOE people don't even know the law. How can they properly guide our students.
DeleteAgain, sad day for our children. Another generation lost with no choices for a good life.
You are 100% right. Pyles and the Campbells have to go. I hope the people of this city can see what a disservice they do to our kids and to the money we spend on education. Emily's victory should show the Campbells, we're coming after them and their ally Jerry Green. Watch out in future elections. I also think the state should investigate Campbell, Sr. being appointed to the school board and any conflicts of interest with the BOE.
DeleteThe Campbells knew what they were doing was illegal, they just chose to ignore what doesn't work for them, legal or illegal. Remind you of any other official who's returning to Trenton?
DeletePeople know before they get to their voting site who they are going to vote for. Signs are a waste of money,and become litter to be cleaned up by the city.
ReplyDeleteMachine politicians win again. Nothing changes.
ReplyDeleteTell that to the Campbell's with their life size signs.
DeleteBelin-Pyles receives her marching orders directly from the Campbells so don’t be to hard on her. She likely was told if the Campbell slate is not successful, her job could be in jeopardy. Her little sidekick Payne, was trying to convince everyone that Belin-Pyles had the authority to control what happens on school property on election day (classic). Wilma’s time is up next year, hope you enjoy your last year on the board.
ReplyDeleteI like Anna Belin-Pyles. When Wilma Campbell isn't pushing her around to do her "crap" work, Superintendent Belin-Pyles is very effective. Ms. Belin-Pyles should stay and the CAMPBELLS need to GO!
ReplyDeleteYou are so very right. Look at the cancelled event for our kids. Wilma was behind this. I think John, Jr. should realize now that many of us don't trust the Campbells and they continue to give us reasons not to trust them.
DeleteA husband and wife on the school board with children that went only to TOP NOTCH PRIVATE SCHOOLS. Why are they so concerned about the Public School system?
ReplyDeleteSure wish BOE had stood their ground and forced AJ to go before the Superior Court judge on call election day. I am not sure he would have prevailed. It is one thing to carry signs and hand out literature on sidewalks at least 100 feet from the entrance to a polling place, but it is another to affix signs to property that is not yours. For that you need permission or run the risk that the property owner will trash it. That has nothing to do with interfering with an election and everything to do with property rights. It applies to BOE property as well as to my own as I see it.
ReplyDeleteAlso, I wish John Campbell, Jr., had stood up to Mayor Mapp's violation of his freedom of speech and assembly. A city can issue permits affecting speech and assembly based on time, place, and manner, but not based on content of the message. It appears that the content of the message was precisely what Mayor Mapp sought to suppress, tradition or no tradition notwithstanding as I see it, but would like to know authoritatively from a judge.
I agree on both. For the mayor to refuse to issue a permit for a function on BOE property on the basis that it violated BOE rules (which it did not), not city rules...preposterous. This should have been challenged by JC
DeleteIt is not common practice to place signs on BOE owned property on election day. Even if people have done it in the past, it's one of those things that poll workers should be prepared to stop doing when called out for it.
You are wrong!!! It did violate BOE rules, but when has that ever stopped Wilma? She feels she is above rules and perhaps she needs to go some place that doesn't have rules. Do people really trust her? NO!
DeleteEveryone should be concerned about the public schools. The mayor is trying to gain control of the BOE. Didn't his children go to top-notch private schools? Does that mean Plainfield residents who don't have children shouldn't be concerned about our schools? Should newcomers to Plainfield who are past the age to have children not care about public schools.These remarks are so ignorant. The current board is very diverse when it comes to having children in the schools or not having children at all or having grown children who went to private school. That does not define your dedication and commitment to public school education. I guess you only want BOE candidates that are backed by the Mayor or Green who run and fund campaigns out of the democratic headquarters. In NJ school board elections are non partisan. They don't run as democrats, republicans or Green party candidates. Jerry Green improperly (and unsuccessfully) ran BOE slates out of the Plainfield Democratic headquarters. Now Mapp is doing the same thing. It was wrong for Jerry Green and it is wrong for Mapp.
ReplyDeletePerhaps you were as shocked as I was to see Morgan's poster next to Storch's and Goode's at Mapp party HQ. Another blogger used to flog Green for his running a BOE "non-partisan" slate of candidates, but since he has declared himself partisan, Mapp's interest in the BOE gets a pass and principle gets buried.
Delete"I guess you only want BOE candidates that are backed by the Mayor or Green who run and fund campaigns out of the democratic headquarters. "
DeleteNo, we want a school board who will not jeopardize the students' education for the sake of a dollar or personal retribution.
The Mayor and the First Lady did not send their children to Plainfield Public Schools systerm and they never ran for Plainfield Board of Education.
DeleteNow the CAMPBELLS -both John and Wilma sent their children to TOP-NOTCH private schools and BOTH are so very interested in being on the school board. WHY???!!!
Their children are grown and still living at home. And John Jr. says the PMUA fees are reasonable yet the Campbells are on the PMUA delinquent list. In other words they haven't paid their REASONABLE PMUA FEES.
And by WILMA CAMPBELL, President of the Plainfield Board of Education, -CANCELLING the YOUTH SUMMIT -she is telling PLAINFIELD that CHILDREN DO NOT COME FIRST!
Plainfield doesn't need a CAMPBELL DYNASTY! Plainfield doesn't need any DYNASTY.
Anon 7:10, I agree that every Plainfield homeowner should be concerned about the BOE. Until we turn Plainfield public schools around and change the public perception of achievement and safety in the schools, we can kiss our investments in our homes goodbye. Plainfield is only attractive to potential homeowners who have no children or will opt for private school -- which leaves out a huge segment of the home buying population. Hopefully we will see improvement on the City Council, but we need all eyes on the Plainfield Board of Education if we want to see a real difference in our city. It's time to get serious about reforming the Plainfield schools.
ReplyDeleteGlad to hear that finally the people in Plainfield realize that another rec center or basket ball court is not what this city needs for its kids - it is a good education.
ReplyDeleteSo maybe people should look at the BOE and the people on it and make a change. There is an election next year.
During the last 10 years that Saint Bernard operated the Parish grammar school approximately half of the student population was non-Catholic, African American. There was a tuition which while exorbitant to some families was none the less a fraction of that of Wardlaw, or other private schools. What did the school; offer that was the magnet? Answer: Good teachers, discipline ( there is no serious learning absent discipline ), and foremost families that were desirous of their children acquiring a good education. Families that reinforced the discipline in the school by requiring the students to do their homework, and to behave. It remains unclear to me how much influence the Board of education has on the subject matter, the acquisition of competent teachers, or the choice of the curriculum. What is abundantly clear is that no matter who sits in this esteemed, and apparently desirable office, they have no influence on the inspiration and guidance that can be afforded by the students family.
ReplyDeleteI bet most people who are commenting about the safety of the schools haven't been inside of one lately. I am in the high school regularly and I am always impressed with the orderly behavior of the students when changing classes and the professionalism of the staff. It is irresponsible to just throw out negative statements that you have nothing to support your accusations with.
ReplyDeleteThen why are students at the bottom of the academic ladder? Please explain. The comment relates primarily to support from the home? An area over which the best of Boards of Education has little if any influence. There was no disparagement intended regarding conduct .Merely a comment that is a necessary component.
DeleteOrderly behavior when changing classes does not get you into college or trade school.
DeleteI hear the same about very good discipline in the High School as well. However, the academic scores may be lower due to the "brain drain" as a LOT of Plainfield's home grown academic talent is in private /catholic school. The same goes for athletic talent.
DeleteThe commenter said "there is no serious learning absent discipline" and it seemed that the commenter was suggesting there was no discipline in the Plainfield Public Schools. I am pleased to hear that was not your intent. And you are correct in implying that partnerships with families are important. And your are also correct that an orderly environment is important to learning.
ReplyDelete