Charles McRae
At a meeting Saturday in DuCret School of Art, Mayor Adrian O. Mapp in his role as PDCC chairman accepted the screening committee's recommendation of Charles McRae for the Third Ward City Council seat. McRae previously ran for the Third Ward seat in 2014 and chaired the Citizens Budget Advisory Committee.
Councilwoman Rebecca Williams
Rebecca Williams, currently representing the Second and Third wards at-large, was named the party's choice to run for the Citywide at-large seat on June 7. Williams managed numerous Plainfield political campaigns previously, including Freeholder Linda Carter's original City Council campaign. In campaigning for candidates in all four wards over the years, Williams said she walked the streets of the entire city several times. She said she was excited to be on the Democratic Party line with Carter this year.
Joylette Mills-Ransome
As explained by screening committee leader Joylette Mills-Ransome, the seven-member committee sifted 40 possible questions for relevancy, each member choosing the top eight reflecting qualities desired in a candidate. Two more were added, ability to campaign and willingness to explain a vote when abstaining or voting no. Mills-Ransome said the committee screened potential candidates in two sessions before coming up with recommendations to Mapp at Saturday's meeting. The PDCC concurred with Mapp's acceptance of the recommendations and applauded the nominees.
The screening committee was a subset of the PDCC, with two members each from Wards 1, 2 and 3 and one from Ward 4.
The filing date for the June 7 primary is April 4. Incumbent Citywide at-large Councilwoman Tracey Brown began campaigning and fundraising in December with numerous social media posts, but no one has gone public for the Third Ward seat as yet. Alma Blanco announced this afternoon she is running for Third Ward with Tracey Brown.
The primary winners will go on the Nov. 8. ballot, along with any Republican and independent filers.
--Bernice
Charles and Rebecca are excellent candidates! Let's work together to make sure they are successful in June. Plainfield needs their leadership and dedication in moving our great City forward.
ReplyDeleteHow many potential candidates?
ReplyDeleteIf you are asking how many applied to be screened by the Democrats, I don't know.
DeleteUpdate: The answer is three for the Third Ward and two for citywide at-large.
DeleteI found it very interesting you described in detail the process and left out the number of applicants. I wonder who the applicants were.
DeleteOh please. I was reporting on the process and the outcome. I did not have the number of applicants but got them later (see above). Those who didn't make the cut were not identified at the meeting.
DeleteI applaud The new dems strategy. Right out of the movie the Godfather. When mike corleone killed his enemies in one swoop. But remember this is not the movies. Remember G.O.T.V is the key and grassroots organizing essential . Mr.X
ReplyDeleteGet over yourself. Jerry Green is the past and Plainfield in finally moving forward. No more Jerry the Don. Ding dong the witch is dead. Yeah!!!
DeleteNorman X,
ReplyDeleteI have to say, your comparison of an open and transparent screening process for choosing candidates for open seats on the city council to some sort of strategy out of "The Godfather" is inaccurate and unfair. Joylette Mills-Ransome, who chaired the process, did so with integrity, honesty, and fairness. As a potential candidate, I had no idea how many other candidates were being interviewed for the open seat. It also seems hypocritical for you to now question this process, when you didn't say a mumbling word when Jerry Green continually threw democracy under the bus and picked candidates (such as Toliver, most recently) with absolutely no process or input from the duly elected committee members, but by executive fiat. Who was the real "godfather" then? Why did you not speak out for fairness then? It's really surprising and disappointing to see you on here likening a truly open screening process and its outcome, which I guess you didn't like, to a gangster movie. I have always had a good relationship with you, and we used to have good conversations. I am surprised that you would not be in support of my efforts as a grassroots activist who sits on the council. But, the city council seats belong to the people, and the people who come out to vote will decide.
Rebecca
Dear Rebecca, I see you used the past tense we had . That is not true from my prospective. It's not personal its business and its about the people and progress and that's my position and perspective. Sincerely, Norman X Johnson
ReplyDeleteOh my, I don't know you but are you twelve?
DeleteRebecca,
ReplyDeleteRemember is takes a crook to know a crook. You and your "New Dem, party are no better than Gerry Green.
I am told that Mapp has more cronyism than Sharon or Gerry ever had. Just follow the money directly to Orange NJ. You too will fall!
I guess the key to effective cronyism is having cronies that can do their jobs instead of incompetent ones.
DeleteI wasnt at the meeting yesterday but did attend the one before that. The chairmen reminded everyone that he had the power to give the line to whoever he wanted. That's excatly what he did. The screening committee was all for show.
ReplyDeleteThis process was open and above board. I was at the previous meeting where it was announced ao all Dem. City Committee members present that applications for seats were being taken. It was also broad cast in several venues, so there was no mystery in that. As a member of the Dem. City Committee when Jerry Green was in charge, I questioned him often on his choice of bypassing the City Committee and making his own choices. He indicated that was his perogitive. It was only if there were no qualified candidates found. Jerry never even advertised that fact that appoications were available. Jerry was the Plainfield Don then and look where he is now. Let's get real and not create mysteries where there are none. These choices have proven that they will work for Plainfield and not one person, as Jerry's kids on the Council have shown over and over.
ReplyDeleteAnd now you have a new one more ruthless and cunning.
DeleteGet over it. The days of Sharon and Jerry are past.
DeleteMaybe Rebecca has proven herself since she’s been on the council but McRae, what has he done in the third ward that proves he’ll work for the people and not just the Mayor?
DeleteNorman, what would please you? Having things they way they were with Jerry? You think being dictated to is the way to go, because that is what Jerry did.
ReplyDeleteYou are absolutely right, GOTV is the way to go, which is what is happening now.
With Jerry it was IJTYHTV (I just told you how to vote).
Congrads to both Rebecca and Charles two individuals who are dedicated to the continued progress of Plainfield. I stand with Peter in saying we must do all we can to insure victory.
ReplyDeleteCongratulations to Charles and Rebecca. Charles McRae will be a great council member and I look forward to helping with his campaign for a big WIN. Rebecca, has proven to be fair-minded and a competent council member who ran off the line twice. She earned the right to run on the party line come this June.
ReplyDeleteI can tell you first hand that the vetting process was fair and just.
Robin Bright
To 1:59 PM - you bring up the real issue with Plainfield. "I am Told". Does that mean you know? Does that mean you believe without any evidence? Does that mean you just take someone's word without investigating for yourself?
ReplyDeleteWhat I have learned about Plainfield is that it doesn't matter what you say - true or not. People will make things up, people will repeat without validating, people will just be lazy when it comes to finding out the truth.
Regardless of whether it is what you want to hear or not, think for yourself and find out the truth - and get your information from all sides and ones that have no vested interest.
To 4:25pm - How about Charles being on the CBAC looking out for your tax payer money,and he was chair twice.
ReplyDeleteDo you know that Charles has tirelessly worked to make sure that Muhlenburg does not turn into condo sites? Have you taken the time to reach out to Charles and ask what he has done for the community instead of just making a statement without fact or research?
Ask Charles what he has done, and why he would be a good representative for the third ward and plainfield as a whole. Don't just assume or take someone else's word for what he has done. Take control and get answers for yourself.