Friday, March 14, 2014

Dem Primary Slate: Toliver, Taylor, Eke

The Regular Democratic Organization's City Council ticket for the June 3 primary is Diane Brown Toliver for the First Ward, Gloria Taylor for the unexpired Third Ward term and Charles Eke for the Second & Third Ward at-large seat.

Democratic Party Chairman Jerry Green announced the choices Friday at a city committee meeting in the YWCA. The RDO candidates and all others must file by 4 p.m. March 31 for the primary.

Toliver is running for the seat held by William Reid since December 2007. Reid announced Tuesday that he is not seeking re-election. She described herself as a wife, mother and businessperson for the past 27 years. Her goal, she said, is "to get Plainfield moving again."

"The past always brings the future," she said. "I say to you tonight that we have to get going."

Toliver said the city needs new ratables and economic development, affordable housing and crime prevention.

"I want to bring crime down in every ward, not just the First Ward," she said. "If we stand together and work together, we can be together."

Taylor is a retired educator and widow of the late Mayor Richard L. Taylor. She described herself as a "loyal Democrat" for the past 30 or 40 years.

"I feel I am in a position to give back," she said, adding she has known Green for 30 years.

"I'm loyal to Jerry Green, but guess what? Jerry Green is loyal to me," she said."If we disagree, it will be behind closed doors. That's what good Democrats do."

She said health care is a major issue in the Third Ward and gave Mayor Adrian O. Mapp credit for "attempting to do something."

Since 2008 when Muhlenberg Regional Medical Center closed, officials have been seeking a medical use for the 17-acre hospital campus that is in the Third Ward.

She also said she would address problems arising from use of the Kenyon Avenue soccer field, which attracts large numbers of players who affect the neighborhood. As a widow and single parent, she wants to stabilize taxes and she called for a close examination of the budget to "make sure we are not having too many people doing the same thing."

But she said, "The real issue is that we've got to re-brand Plainfield." an idea she said she "stole" from Newark politician Ras Baraka.

"No one's going to change our image but us," she said.

Taylor said the city has to get beyond an "us and them" mentality, which is bringing it down.

Charles Eke will have the party line for the Second & Third Ward at-large seat held now by incumbent Councilwoman Rebecca Williams. Eke has served on the Planning Board and briefly on the City Council as an appointee. He is currently an alternate on the Plainfield Municipal Utilities Authority board of commissioners.

Eke said he would bring unity to the council.

"The interests of the citizens of Plainfield has to be number one," he said.

He pledged to work on more recreation and training for youth to deter crime and advocated a "mock council" for young people.

"I will stick to issues that benefit Plainfield," he said. "I will do my best."

Green also invited Williams to speak. She traced her long political involvement, organizing campaigns for numerous council members. On the Muhlenberg issue, she said, "The people have spoken - they do not want 600 apartments."

She said she felt the current investigation of the PMUA should go through and there should be some reforms. Citing a $1 million settlement for former officials, she called it a "backroom deal" and said she was upset that workers are being impacted by it.

On crime, she said she has served as chair of the council's public safety committee and now works with the new chair, Councilwoman Tracey Brown.

"I always truly do put Plainfield first," she said.

Williams recently announced a Third Ward running mate, Charles McRae. Though they will not be on the party line on June 3, she said, "That's what primaries are for - for the people to make a choice."

11 comments:

  1. "I'm loyal to Jerry Green, but guess what? Jerry Green is loyal to me," she said."If we disagree, it will be behind closed doors. That's what good Democrats do." ... well.. she's go the half-wits votes...too bad Jerry Green isn't the city..her job would be easier without those pesky constituents getting in the way of her loyalty to Jerry.

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    1. There's enough reason not to vote for Taylor or Eke. They will both work against the mayor and Plainfield. I know who I'm campaigning for and its not Taylor or Eke.

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  2. At least we know who JG is with. There is one clear choice for those of us who want to see Plainfield move forward and that choice is not the RDO.

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  3. Replies
    1. And God help us to get rid of Jerry Green1

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  4. Great Democratic process -

    1 - Jerry calls a meeting of the elected Democratic City Committee members at the very last allowable hour

    2 - Jerry announces who is on the slate

    3 - Jerry talks about himself

    4 - meeting over

    That's how it works.

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  5. Once again Jerry Green disenfranchised the duly-elected members of the Plainfield Democratic City Committee. They are elected to have a voice in choosing the Democrats who run on the line for the council seats. They did not have a voice or a vote. It's interesting that Jerry Green asked the committee members for their votes to make him UC chairman last year--then, their votes counted, and he made sure he had their support. But when it comes to the local council races, the committee is voiceless and, thus, powerless. When I ran 3 years ago, the same thing happened--no vote was taken to see whether the committee supported the incumbent, or me, or the other candidate. As I said last night, the committee people can do whatever they want during the primary. I will remind folks that a few years back, when Frank Lautenberg had the RDO line for his Senate re-election, Jerry Green supported Rob Andrews and worked on his behalf through that endorsement. Jerry Green also chose to support Hillary Clinton over Barack Obama for president. What's good for the goose should be good for the gander. Democratic committee members can support whomever they'd like during a primary, and I hope they will look at my record as a strong and progressive Democrat who has served as their advocate during my time on the council. I think Jerry Green was afraid to hold a vote, because he wasn't sure that his candidate, PMUA commissioner Charles Eke, would have enough votes of the committee to win the line in a fair way.

    Rebecca

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  6. It's a shame that the current City Council still acts like Sharon is in office and Gloria Taylor is not a good choice, so Jerry and I will disagree on this one and I will be working very hard for Taylor's opponent. Its too bad the good of Plainfield doesn't come first and Taylor has shown that her agenda is not Plainfield's.

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    1. Bob, it has very little to do with Sharon. The City Council just like Sharon does/did what they are told. If we ever expect to move Plainfield forward in a positive direction we first have to get rid of the reason why we are in the rut were in. If our present Mayor can get a city council not controlled or beholden to Jerry Green we just may be stepping in the right direction.

      Please stop blaming Sharon when the real blame should be on Jerry Green, after all by his own admission “he runs this city”.

      KS

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  7. Oh no .... not problems with a soccer field !!!! Those people should stay home and watch their MTV, then come out at night when we have bars open until 2 am. See ... No Problem.

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  8. Plainfield will never change, People. Open your eyes and smell the coffee. Retirement can't come soon enough for me. I can't wait to get out of this $#&t hole!

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