Somebody floated the notion that Mayor Sharon
Robinson-Briggs, newly rejected by the Regular Democratic Organization for the
party line in the June 4 primary, could make her third-term run as a Republican.
Consider the possibilities: Plainfield Republicans seldom
have a primary contest, so she would be guaranteed a place on the November 5
ballot if unopposed in the primary. She would be part of a slate with a popular
governor at the top and a local young notable, John Campbell Jr., running for
Assembly. The scion of “Kingmaker” John Campbell would enjoy all his father’s
political wile in getting out the vote and maybe some “athletic fit” coattails for the mayor to ride in addition to
Christie’s mega-threads. She would also
be returning to her GOP roots, with maybe some aid from her old NAACP
/Republican running buddy George Gore.
Of course, if a GOP mayoral challenger emerged on April 1,
her supporters would have to change parties by April 10 in order to vote for
her in the primary. If not, they could remain Democrats, abstain from the
primary and vote for her in the general election. And instead of maybe being a lame
duck from June 4 on, she would have five more months to marshal her troops and
fill her coffers for the big match on Nov. 5.
Drawbacks for a GOP run include the city’s 12-to-1 ratio of
registered Democrats to Republicans and the RDO determination to back a slate
from Sen. Barbara Buono on down the line. This is also the year for Democrats
to reorganize, with 68 committee seats on the ballot and a party chairmanship
to decide. Would even her most loyal supporters want to go to the dark side and
give up all those RDO perks such as county jobs, contracts, appointments and other
political privileges?
A successful switch also assumes a welcome from GOP party leaders on local, county and state levels. But if the possibility exists, what will the mayor choose, fight or flight?
We’ll see on Monday.
--Bernice
Would even her most loyal supporters want to go to the dark side and give up all those RDO perks such as county jobs, contracts, appointments and other political privileges?
ReplyDelete--- Perish the thought that greasing the palm is half the reason for their success in local politics..why that's be horribly Republican of them all now wouldn't it??
Surely a party of Campbell, Briggs, Palin and Bachmann must have more answers than a party of Green, Briggs, Corzine and Jackson Jr.
ReplyDeleteYou'r kidding, right? April Fool's Day is still to come. Sandy Spector, where are you when we need you?
ReplyDeleteMany people forget that Sharon was a Republican before she switched to Democrat so she could run for mayor. My concern is that she is so out of touch with the real world that she thinks she is liked by a majority of the voters. SHE IS REVILED BY MANY OF HER PAST SUPPORTERS! Whether a Republican or Independent Sharon has an up-hill battle and a need to get real with herself.
ReplyDeleteThose who vote for Sharon for mayor do so because of being friends, not because they care about Plainfield.
ReplyDeleteThat is the problem here. No one considers qualifications. If they did, they would look at Plainfield's budget, the lack of economic development, and how she has taken money from taxpayers for her own gain. Shame on them.
Aside from the Campbells and George Gore, I cannot imagine many local Republicans supporting her!
ReplyDelete