Dunn Hearing Held, Decision on Wednesday

When he moved from the Second Ward to the Third Ward in September 2014, Jeffery Dunn did not change his voter registration. Instead, he used his business address at 320 Park Avenue in the First Ward, and even voted at Barlow School. It was not until April 4 - the filing date for the June 7 primary - that he changed his driver's license and voting address to 1038 Central Avenue.

"I realized I had to dot the i's and cross the t's," Dunn said. "I didn't get around to it. I thought it was important to do it before I registered as a candidate."

Dunn was one of three people who met the 4 p.m. filing deadline that day. The others were Charles McRae and Alma Blanco. Dunn's residency came into question soon after. The city's special charter says a candidate must be "a legal voter" and must have lived for one year in the ward he or she wants to represent.

Dunn testified at a two-hour hearing Monday and the outcome will be known by Wednesday, the deadline for rulings on challenges to a candidate's filing. Former Plainfield Corporation Counsel Dan Williamson spoke for Dunn as a "friend." Attorney Robert Renaud represented the objector, Mayor Adrian O. Mapp and current Corporation Counsel David Minchello conducted the hearing. Renaud said candidates are required to comply with the legal requirements of the state and of the city's charter and said he would rely on various documents. They included a voter registration on Nov. 20, 2014 giving an address of 320 Park Avenue, a voter sheet from Nov. 3, 2015 with the same address, voter records dating back to 2007 with Dunn never have voted in the Third Ward. He said the records were "more than sufficient to show that the candidate was not a legal voter."

"It is incumbent upon the prospective candidate to prove he was a legal voter," Renaud said.

Dunn traced events including the short sale of his Belvidere Avenue home to moving his family into the capacious Central Avenue home, then his divorce. His reason for using the Park Avenue address, he said, was for privacy concerning the divorce. When Renaud asked whether he requested to be registered as a voter at that address, Dunn said he did not request. When Renaud asked again, Dunn said, "I responded to the document."

"Let me try this once again," Renaud said, but Williamson objected, saying Dunn did whatever the driver's license required.

Dunn had a crossing guard from Cedarbrook School testify that he saw Dunn leave the Central Avenue address every morning and also had his mother, Flora, testify that he lived there. But Renaud asked for proof such as tax returns, credit card bills, cell phone bill, checks or even magazine subscriptions to prove the Central Avenue address was his "legitimate domicile."

"Despite the testimony, there is no proof," Renaud said.

As the hearing concluded, Williamson questioned the process and said historically there has been a summary decision review. "I understand the fabric of this town," he said, predicting the public "will read about all of this as early as today."

"This wasn't necessary," Williamson said.

--Bernice