Monday, June 5, 2017

May the Best Candidates Win

Well, here I am again staring at a screen and wondering what difference it makes whether I post or not.

Within 48 hours, the voters will decide which Democrat gets on the ballot for the Nov. 7 general election. Partisans of three of the four mayoral candidates have declared themselves on social media and blogs. (The fourth is apparently just a spoiler.) The obligatory last-minute bombshell was publication of Fire Chief Tidwell's lawsuit against the mayor and other city officials. Never mind that both sides will be heard in a court of law and a decision will be rendered at some future date.

I started a list of pros and cons for each candidate, but my pros and cons may not be yours. I don't expect supporters of Bridget Rivers to be swayed by my opinion that she has not gained sufficient professionalism in her two terms on the council and previous school board experience. Rev. Tracey Brown has moved in more circles beyond Plainfield, but her involvement with the Campbells make me think there will be dues to be paid if she wins. Mayor Adrian Mapp's accomplishments are self-evident to many, though not to his enemies.

The mayor that I think the city needs now is one who can go to Trenton or Washington and advocate for Plainfield as resources dwindle and competition mounts. This mayor must be able to express what the city has done for itself to deserve consideration. At home, this mayor must set an example of fairness and regard for diverse populations that make up the city.

The most valuable skill to have in Plainfield may be the ability to negotiate political pitfalls. Parties want loyalty and solo practitioners want to get paid, one way or another, for their skills. An elected official may face coercion to reward the powerful for their help and must be able to say no when the demand is transgressive.

Council candidates need to know and embrace the legislative role they are seeking, which means reading what they will be voting on, consulting with the executive branch as necessary, listening to constituents and then voting their conscience. At a minimum, council candidates must demonstrate that they know the difference between the executive and legislative branches and will respect the parameters.

What are your standards for a mayor or council member? Make sure your choices measure up and make sure you vote.
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14 comments:

  1. Whomever gets elected must care about the whole city including the 5th ward(???) where ever that is. (See the quote in yesterday's CN.)

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    1. I saw that and winced. It is most likely a typo and now that copy-editing is done regionally, the editor probably did not know there are only four wards in Plainfield.

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  2. Bernice, you know the best candidates rarely win. Meaning Column A almost always win whether they are the best or not.

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  3. Bernice, your posting does make a difference. Let me tell you some things you may not know -

    1 - When there is a gathering in Plainfield, and topics turn to politics, your blog is cited as the "version of truth" source

    2 - People are constantly saying how grateful they are to have you posting about Plainfield. Most of us are too busy working, and we feel connected and informed about Plainfield because of you.

    3 - Your blog tells the story as a true journalist. When you have an opinion, you state it. Other than that, you state the facts, and let us decide

    4 - It does not go unnoticed that what you do takes time and hard work. You have a grateful following who appreciates that.

    5 - When you take time off, whether it be just a day, or vacation to visit your daughter, we go through withdrawal because you have not posted. There should be a name penned for the symptom.

    So you see, Bernice, it does matter if you post or not. Thank you for posting.

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  4. Well said! Bernice, your blog is valuable to so many.

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  5. Bernice, where is this lawsuit filed. Couldn't find it with a search in NJ.COM.

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    1. I didn't see it on the NJPA public notices site either, but I do not know the publication process. David said it was only filed Friday.

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    2. NJ Courts Public Case Access website shows no suit filed by Frank Tidwell in 2017 as of this post, but is probably somewhat delayed in uploading information. David Rutherford wrote that he would upload the complaint today, but hasn't yet. If a lawsuit was already filed presumably there is a Superior Court timestamp. Maybe David has this, or maybe not. Maybe there is a suit, maybe not. But it takes two to tango. Not every suit has merit. Not every lawyer is right. Smoke and mirrors can be their stock in trade. Just look at the last few Corporation Counsels the City has had over the last decade. Why David would choose to write up a lengthy synopsis rather than scan and publish the complaint is a question he should answer.

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    3. He's since posted the document which is a Tort Claim Notice. This is a required filing in advance of any lawsuit against a government entity.

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  6. The best never get to be nominated. Only the connected.
    Seep

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  7. Plainfield is not evolved enough to vote in the best candidate, Bridget Rivers.

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  8. Or perhaps we are, and that's why she's not going to be mayor.....

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