City Hall
With six weeks still to go before the primary filing date, four mayoral candidates have already declared they are running.Incumbent Mayor Adrian O. Mapp announced his intention last year to seek a second term. Despite a sometimes uncooperative City Council, since taking office in January 2014, Mapp has attracted several developers to the city. He revived the cabinet-level post of Deputy City Administrator for Economic Development and chose Carlos Sanchez to fill it. Mapp's team can now point to a $50 million, 212-unit development on South Avenue, among others, as proof of progress.
Rev. Tracey Brown, who just concluded a four-year term as the Citywide at-large representative on the City Council, is in full campaign mode for the mayoral seat. Brown is using social media to convey her message of compassion for 2016's dozen victims of gun violence and has held several public meetings since leaving the governing body.
Brown and Mapp are Democrats.
Mustapha Muhammad ran for mayor in 2013 as an independent candidate, describing himself as a "student of the Honorable Louis Farrakhan." This year, he is using his Facebook page, which lists more than 3,000 friends, to announce his mayoral intentions and to give his views on what the city needs in leadership.
Councilwoman Bridget Rivers is completing her second term representing the Fourth Ward, but instead of seeking re-election to the council, a recent Facebook post indicates she is running for "alcaldesa" (mayor) on a slate with Alma Blanco as a candidate for "consejal" (council). Rivers is also a Democrat, making three so far for a primary race for mayor.
Besides the Mayoral and Fourth Ward seats, the Second & Third Wards at-large City Council seat is also up for an unexpired term. Rebecca Williams was the incumbent, but vacated the seat after winning the Citywide at-large seat. Appointee Joylette Mills-Ransome is expected to file for the primary, now likely facing a challenge from Blanco.
So far, no Republicans have announced. Before the November 2016 general election, registered Democrats numbered 14,524 to the Republicans' 930. Independents totaled 7,793.
Party members must file by 4 p.m. April 3 to run in the June 6 primary. Independents file on June 6 to be on the November 7 general election ballot.
--Bernice
I was at Bridget's announcement to run for mayor. She is a good woman, and lady with the people at heart. I like Rev. Brown but she doesn't have the heart for it, she should stay at her church and support Bridget, and now that Rev. Brown's running mate Alma is running on the Rivers for Mayor ticket the best thing for the rev is to endorse Bridget. One thing that Bridget didn't announced was who was on her ticket with her to be the replacement for her in the 4th ward. I am waiting to hear that. Rumor is Bridget will choose Patricia Barksdale but no one is sure. In the 4th they want Bridget to have a running mate who understand the community. If anyone know who is Bridget 4th ward person let us know.
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DeleteI disagree with anon,8:53AM, I think just the opposite. Bridgette should support Rev. Brown. Rev. Brown has a heart for this community, she is respected by the community, and overall is just more qualified, and has a better temperament. Rivers will not get votes in the second ward. Rev. will not win it but will get more. Why would Rivers give up her seat to run for mayor? She will not win, and will have nothing. Alma was carried by Rev.Brown, said wonderful things about Rev. now decides to team up with Rivers that is so hypocritical .Alma is just an opportunist who will jump on anyone's bandwagon to promote herself. Mapp will get the line and win. Rivers will still have her Jerry Green job, Alma will find somebody else to carry her down the road, and Rev. will have lost nothing, but some pride.
ReplyDeleteI'm not sure I trust Tracy Brown to do her best for Plainfield. She has voted with Jerry Green and Rivers on too many issues that I thought would have been against the morals of a minister. Rivers and Brown are suspect when I have to consider who to vote for. Their records on the City Council speak against them.
DeleteNeither one is gonna fold and all three . The municipal chair should find a solution to this dilemma and keep the party united. And you calling alma a opportunist do that also applies when Mapp jumped out there with fulop.
ReplyDeleteAlcaldesa? We used to have a Mayor. Realamente! Ha llegado el momento de solicitor mi ciudania Austaliana. There is no objection to one of any ethnicity being Mayor provided they are qualified. That of course is a different subject. Everyone must come from somewhere. Our language is the bond that makes us one people. Or, in the new order of things are we disparate peoples who happen to be living in the same house, but on different floors?
ReplyDeleteI have to disagree about Bridget Rivers having the people of Plainfield at heart. She has proved for many years tat she has had her mentor Jerry Green and herself and only the special interests. I don't think she can be trusted to represent everyone or move Plainfield forward. This is just from observing her votes in City Council.
ReplyDeleteI don't think either one of them is qualified to be mayor. I stopped by a couple of Sundays ago to visit Rev.Tracey Brown's church. On that particular Sunday they took up and offering to feed seniors who run out of food the end of the month, and something about volunteers to help feed the homeless at the YMCA. I was quite impressed with the outreach they had going on, and then Rev. Tracey Brown preached. She is probably one of the best preachers I have ever heard, and I have heard a lot of preachers, Said that to say this, she should stay out of politics her calling and gifts are in ministry. She should stay there. As for Miss Rivers she argues a lot, and turns people off, not sure I would trust her as mayor.I think Cory would make a good mayor.
ReplyDeleteAnyone but Mapp's admistration is the best candidate. Too many issues he never addressed and swept under the rug and Smiley is incompetent at best. Let's hope plainfield votes smart.
ReplyDeleteWe do not have any Washington's, Hamilton's, Jefferson's or Lincolns available to us within the precincts of Plainfield. We must do with what is available and choose the best from amongst those available. And in judging who that might be we should be cognizant of the restraints placed on anyone serving by financial limitations, political opposition and the inertia that is a component of every bureaucracy. We should also consider the intellectual capacity, education and experience of the candidate. I do not believe that any serious. unbiased consideration these factors can lead to any conclusion, given the current prospective candidates, other than to reelect Mayor Mapp. Councilman Storch would be a great follow up in 4 years. Continuity has great value. The office requires a bit more than good intentions and noble character. Bill Kruse
ReplyDeleteAt least don't cite slave owners
DeleteYes, they were evil men who should be expunged from our history books. BK
DeleteAnon 8:05 - that is really ridiculous.
DeleteIt was intended to be. It is in response to 3:19 above. Sorry you took it literally. BK
DeleteMustapha is running in the general, not the primary.
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