Councilwoman Gloria Taylor likes to preach about "pragmatic politics," that is, being able to muster the necessary votes to get things done. On the seven-member City Council, that means being able to "count to four," as her late husband, Mayor Richard L. Taylor, so often said. On the nine-member school board, it means being able to count to five, as we saw in the 5-4 votes to choose leaders for the year ahead.
Over the past 30 years, I have seen pragmatic politics used to show power, to control outcomes, to punish the opposition and occasionally to advance heartfelt goals for the city. Whether in appointed or elected governmental seats, some individuals may be loyal simply to save patronage jobs. I call these folks "place-holders" who don't contribute much except a sure "yes" or "no" vote at the expected time.
Others who serve may vote only after careful consideration of the matter at hand and will often explain their decisions for the record.
A political leader therefore may take either a "who's your daddy" approach or may appeal to a shared vision of what's best for the city. When I talk with certain longtime observers of the Plainfield scene, they laugh at my naivety in even thinking the latter is a motivation. Maybe I should be more cynical, but I seem to have - what is that thing with the feathers? - um, hope that it's not always all about greed.
The current mayor seems to realize that hope without some degree of power is by and large a bird-brained concept. So far, he and his supporters have gained control of the Democratic City Committee and he can count to five like-minded individuals on the school board. It was amusing in February to see the reaction when Second & Third Ward at-large Councilwoman Rebecca Williams filed to run for the Citywide at-large seat. Speculation immediately arose that it augured a plot for the mayor to be able to count to four on the council by January 2017.
Williams is running on the Democratic Party line with Third Ward candidate Charles McRae. Incumbent Citywide at-large Councilwoman Tracey Brown is running for re-election on a ticket with Alma Blanco for Third Ward in the June 7 Democratic primary contest. No Republicans filed.
Now that the controversial school board election is over, the primary race is heating up. On Facebook, someone named Tracey Jones posted no less than six attacks on Williams and McRae Thursday.
Union County Clerk Joanne Rajoppi has posted the candidate lists for president, House of Representatives, Union County freeholders and local races. In Plainfield, Republicans are outnumbered 13 to one by Democrats and even though this is the year for Republicans to reorganize, only eight filed to fill a possible 68 committee seats.
Winners of the Democratic primary contests for City Council will be on the November 8 ballot, along with any independents who file on June 7. Whatever your view of politics, make sure you vote on June 7 and mark your calendar for the Nov. 8 general election.
--Bernice
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Thanks for the info. Bernice. I have to read the attack and see if it has any merit. We can see Ms. Williams and Ms. Brown's record and make our decisions based on them and seeif their work was part of paying someone back, Jerry or Sharon, or doing what might help Plainfield. I know Charles McRae and he seems to be well grounded and honest. I don't know his opponent, but hope Ms. Brown and she have given up their loyalties to Jerry and Sharon and will make their choices according to what is good for Plainfield. I and many others on the City Committee could not choose Ms. Brown based on past behaviors, though I wish her the best. Let's deal with facts, what each candidate has done in the past and is likely to do in the future. The race is on!
ReplyDeleteI can't get excited about any of them. It will always be a power grab.
ReplyDeleteTo 11:56am - then run.
ReplyDeleteAnon 11:56 - or should I say Cynic 11:56. Those types of answers are always easy because they are based in some fantastical world and they do nothing to move the ball forward.
ReplyDeleteWinning elections is about serving and with that come alliances and with alliances comes power - happens in elections, happens in volunteer positions and happens at the office.
So it's your turn to feed at the trough? Good for you. The bottom line is politicians go into that business for their own personal gain, ego, prestige, etc. It is corrupting. I believe in term limits, not dynasties.
DeleteThe only one in power in my office is the boss, not my peers. So when you say it happens in the office, you are comparing apples to oranges. Totally different.
DeleteAnon 7:07 - you must work in a two person office or you have an amazingly unusual group of colleagues who don't form any sort of alliance or try to influence anything.
DeleteNo, not a two person office and nothing unusual, it's work. We were hired to do a job. Our goal is to make sure the company stays profitable and continue to function. In return we get paid!
DeleteWe don’t’ have alliances, we have mutual respect for one another, when necessary we have brainstorming sessions, we work for a company and every employees goal is to do their assign tasks to ensure we stay profitable and in business. If any alliances exist, it’s to the company that employees us. You my friend must work for the government or self-employed. I work in the corporate world and it just doesn’t work the way you seem to think.
DeleteAlliances on boards can be a positive way to accomplish goals, however, even with alliances we need to keep in mind, our elected officials on boards are all individual thinkers and each and everyone was elected by the same due process for the same purpose and that’s to do the peoples bidding. At no time should one person on the city council or school board believe they are more important than the next. They must remember each one is equal and have only a single vote. One would hope and think that when we elect our leaders they are working toward one common goal and, that should be to improve the quality of life for it’s constituents. Unfortunately, too many of us get drunk with power and instead of working together we have the tendency to become self-serving and greedy, forgetting our primary purpose. I don’t see no one person on the city council or school board as being the leader of the entire board, they were all elected to be leaders and all should act accordingly.
ReplyDeleteI believe one of the main reasons the new BOE slate won is because people are tired of any one person whose only motive is to control. That type of leadership does more harm than good and only fosters division. And frankly, I don’t think the people are going to tolerate that type of behavior from anyone going forward. Everyone should take notice, we will be watching and holding you accountable. In order for a board to be transparent and efficient (capable of producing desired results without wasting materials, time, or energy) each member should use every tool they have at their disposal when making decision, doing their due diligence and voting in the best interest of the party they represent. New members to the BOE and city council should realize their roles. I would hope that I never hear that mantra that was so familiar with the last BOE members which is, one board member telling another “stay in your lane”. Each board member is in the same lane and should always remember the power of their vote and never surrender their vote.
The folks of Plainfield need to start working together to improve this city, lower our taxes and provide our children with the best education our $198, 000, 000 can afford. The one takeaway for new BOE members should be the way the last BOE president took control of the Superintend and the way the majority of board members surrender their vote. We all know who benefited and it certainly wasn’t the children or community. No one person is in control or the self appointed leader over the next. That’s not how it works and it can’t be how it works, we voted for change and that is what we will expect and demand whether the vote is 5 -4 or 4- 3. Those days of self serving leadership should be a thing of the past in order to move Plainfield forward. We want it, we voted for it and, we expect it.
RCH
Right on!
DeleteBernice, you need a "like" button!
DeleteMapp is definitely trying control the council so he can continue leading down the path of deztruction... Tracey J
ReplyDeleteDear "Tracey Jones" -
DeleteOur Mayor Mapp is doing his best to clean up the mess that your friends have made.
"A" is for Athiest? Bah hah, hah, spell check much? Or is it Alma?
If by control the council you mean push the city into financial chaos, enrich good ole boy politicians who have nothing but their own interests in mind, spending city money to benefit oneself, being treated like a bit of royalty vs a public servant and making it known through their words and actions they feel they're better than everyone else and the rules don't apply to them.. You dear "Tracey J" are referring to the former administration of Sharon and her red coats as well as her Mentor Jerry G. And I assure you... those who scream they're doing the Lords work the loudest are usually doing it for their own pocket.
Delete