Monday, April 3, 2017

Filing Yields Large Primary Field

Even though I made a special reminder for myself to check on primary filings, the distractions of the day won out.

The super missed two previous dates to start repairs for the Jan. 13 water damage in my apartment, so once again I spent many hours moving stuff so could start today. Time passed. The cat napped until he heard someone arriving around 1:15 p.m., and then he went into hiding.  The super noticed a suspicious bulge on the kitchen wall over the sink and began knocking out all the plaster. This wasn't even part of the job as discussed previously, though probably necessary. What wasn't necessary was most of my work moving stuff, it turned out, because he was just doing the kitchen today.

I extracted my copy of Bruce Springsteen's book, "Born to Run," from under one of the plastic drop cloths and alternated between reading and making forays outside to rake leaves and sift compost while the repair work proceeded. The work halted before 4 p.m., but I didn't remember the filing deadline until I was sitting in the City Council meeting tonight.

So here I am bringing up the rear with filings.

As expected, Mayor Adrian O. Mapp filed to run for a second term, with Steve Hockaday as running mate for the Fourth Ward seat. Hockaday previously ran for the First & Fourth Wards at-large seat. Mapp's slate includes Joylette Mills-Ransome running for the unexpired Second & Third Ward at-large seat. This slate has the endorsement of Union County Democratic Committee Chairman Jerry Green, who is running for re-election to the District 22 Assembly seat.

Fourth Ward incumbent Bridget Rivers filed to run for mayor with Alma Blanco as her running mate for the unexpired Second & Third Ward at-large term. Blanco ran last year for the Third Ward seat.

Former Councilwoman Tracey Brown filed for mayor, with Terri Briggs as her Fourth Ward running mate.

A surprise slate is headed by Dr. Henrilynn Davis Ibezim for mayor, with former Councilman Elliot Simmons for Fourth Ward and Cameron Cox for the unexpired Second & Third Ward at-large term. This slate has a campaign poster on Facebook with the slogan, "Bringing the world to Plainfield." Ibezim ran for governor of Imo State in Nigeria in 2015, according to another poster on the site.

The primary is June 6. Winners of the three contests - mayor, Fourth Ward and the unexpired term - will be on the Nov. 7 ballot along with any independents who file on June 6.

--Bernice

16 comments:

  1. Let the photo ops begin! Smile and watch out for all the cameras and speeches for the next 2 months

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  2. Based on who is running, it seems like an expanded slate will help the incumbent.

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  3. Wow here goes the Cox again running to split VOTE'S. Last time Cameron Father Martin Cox was paid off to throw his hat in the ring the first time Mayor Mapp against The former Mayor Sharon Robinson-Briggs. Now here they go again. Let me get out my popcorn and watch the show.

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  4. Bernice, you didn't mention Sharon Robinson Briggs running for freeholder. Can you confirm if she is running on Tracey Brown's slate?

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    1. I checked the County Clerk's website last night and could not locate new filings. Sounds like you might know the answer yourself. You could ask them, if not.

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    2. TAP reported the Sharon/Freeholder filing, last paragraph: https://www.tapinto.net/towns/plainfield/articles/plainfield-primary-election-slates-announced

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    3. I understand from another website that Ms. Sharon sent her freeholder petition to the city clerk - not the county clerk as is required for a freeholder position.

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    4. She didn't win much more than her own street last time she ran for third ward. Is there no rock bottom to her making a fool of herself in politics. The shame is I was so proud of her when she first won mayor. But she proved how hurtful she could be having a little power. Just as Plainfield deserves better so does Union County.

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  5. Bernice it wasn't allegedly Martin Cox ran just so Mayor Mapp would loose. Facts. Where have these people been? I go to council meetings and I have never seen any of them there. SMH Literally. Come one Plainfield please

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  6. Looks like Tracey Brown's camp is nothing more than a Campbell force. Tracey is running Wilma Campbell's sister, Ellen Carter Haywood for 2/3 council seat. People need to wake up, the Repubs are now trying to take over Plainfield. Since Mapp overpowered them on the school board, they are trying to take over the city now and got a hold of vulnerable weak Tracey Brown who is blindly believing their tune. This is going to be an interesting election to watch. Thank you Bernice for keeping us posted!

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    1. I seriously doubt anyone would call Rev. Tracey Brown vulnerable or weak, though the alliance is interesting.

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  7. Can we assume that Doctor Ibezim lost the election when he ran for Governor of Imo State in Nigeria? How does Dr. Ibezim intend to make Plainfield great again?

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  8. In researching the name of Dr. Henrilynn Davis Ibezim, I came across this: http://law.justia.com/cases/new-jersey/appellate-division-unpublished/2017/a3879-14.html. And he wants to be Mayor.

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    1. He has a right to run as a legal and registered voter. Let he that be without sin cast the first blog post.

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    2. Anon 2:37 - I don't believe Mr. El-Amin was saying Mr. Ibezim didn't have a right to run. I believe he was just saying he may not be qualified for the position.

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