Williams, Reid Win Council Seats

Democratic Primary winner Rebecca Williams went on to win the Second & Third Ward at-large seat in Tuesday's general election by a large margin, assuring New Democratic clout on the City Council when she takes office Jan. 1.

Supporters gathered at her East Seventh Street headquarters to see the unofficial results, which by her campaign's numbers came in at 4,179 versus 753 for Republican Jim Pivnichny, with Ward 3, District 6 missing due to a broken machine. The City Clerk's office came up with 4,426 for Williams and 754 for Pivnichny, supposedly with all districts reporting. Official results will be posted by Union County Clerk Joanne Rajoppi on Monday.

Councilman Adrian Mapp described Williams as "the architect behind a number of campaigns," including past ones of council members Cory Storch, Linda Carter, Annie McWilliams, Mapp himself and Rashid Burney.

"It was her time, her year this year," Mapp said.

Williams ran off the line and defeated Burney, the incumbent and the Democratic Party's choice for re-election.

Williams called her victory "a very timely win," saying she was not being boastful, but that it was a positive thing for Plainfield "to keep it moving forward."

Pivnichny stopped by to offer Williams his congratulations.

William Reid, who had the Democratic Party's endorsement for re-election to the First Ward council seat, received 1,715 votes to Republican Sean Alfred's 118 votes in the unofficial tally. He and Councilwoman Linda Carter, who won a Union County freeholder seat Tuesday, visited Williams' headquarters to mark their mutual victories.

(This writer stopped in because it was right on my block - very convenient for an avowed pedestrian and no slight intended to the Regular Democrats several blocks away.)

--Bernice