Monday, October 27, 2014

Voters: You Are In Charge

The reason for the June primary is to let voters decide among Democratic or Republican candidates which ones should be on the party line in November. It has been many a long year since there was a primary contest among GOP candidates, but there have been Democratic primary contests often.

The primary winner may not be a party darling, but if it was solely up to the party chairman to anoint a candidate for November, there would be no need for a primary. At this time , the primary system is the law in Plainfield, so whether the chairman embraces the primary winner is not as important as the fact that the people - aka voters - legally have the right to choose who wins. The voters then have their say in the November general election where party primary winners and independents are on the ballot.

Soon voters will receive their sample ballots. The actual choices will be on that ballot. If a voter receives an image of a ballot in the mail, it may be altered for political reasons. The sample ballot from the county clerk is the real list of candidates.

Apparently in Plainfield and Linden Democratic primary winners are being rejected by the party chairman. If you are a Democrat, you can verify the official candidate here or look at your sample ballot when it comes in the mail.

Until such time as voters decide that Plainfield should hold nonpartisan elections, there will be June primaries and the winners as chosen by the voters will be on the November ballot.

Now, in the general election voters can select their choices from anyone on the row for a particular seat. A Democrat could vote for a Libertarian or a Green Party candidate or even write in "Mickey Mouse," as has happened in the past. Voters can skip a row if they don't like any choices, or if there are two or three seats to be filled as in Freeholder candidates every year and Assembly candidates next year, voters can just pick the ones they really like and skip the others.

It must be a strain for a chairman who doesn't agree with his own party's voters on primary winners. To what lengths might he go to avoid endorsing the voters' choice for the November party line? Would he hook up with the GOP behind the scenes to try to thwart the legitimate primary winner?

This is a confusing year for Democratic voters who are getting mixed messages from leadership. Voters need to be on the alert for gimmicks and shell games. If a party chairman tells you some primary winners are more equal than others, watch out. Inform yourself and then vote as you will - you are in charge at the polls.

--Bernice

16 comments:

  1. Hi Bernice you please take a look at Dorian Hurtt who is running for re-election on the School Board he is a great candidate and people should have come to the debate last night. He ran with the Campbells the last time he ran now he is speaking out against hem. He needs support. Also is the next debate Tuesday or Wednesday people are very confused please help.

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  2. Interesting post, Bernice. I have not been "embraced" by Jerry Green as the local PDCC leader--I didn't expect to, given that he was extremely angry that I managed to vanquish his candidate and overcome a difficult ballot position, and that he has tried to drag my name through the mud--as he has for years now. I clearly didn't need his help or blessing--he is everything that is wrong with the tired old status quo--go along to get along. I continue to hold out hope that folks will get tired of his divisive nonsense--apparently, the powers at the county want him gone as well. As I noted on my blog, he has been telling people that he had "reached" out to me some weeks ago--simply not true. However, just this past Wednesday, October 22, I was “invited” by telephone (a call at 9:01 am from one of Jerry Green’s people) to a photo op event in Rahway with Cory Booker scheduled for 9:30 am that morning. Yes, 29 minutes before the event, I get a call--lol. I wonder if Green invited Derek Armstead, the Democratic candidate for mayor of Linden, for a photo op with Booker. As I wrote on my other blogs, it seems as if Green is deliberately working against the Democratic Party's choice for mayor of Linden--a black man, it's important to note (you know how Jerry likes to play the "race" card). As far as my campaign here in Plainfield, I have been canvassing, and hope to finish this upcoming weekend. I am alone--no party support from "JG"--if I am re-elected, I can say that the voters have spoken.

    Rebecca

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  3. Dorian Hurtt is the quiet storm please support him

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  4. I'm sure Dorien is grateful for the Support. Thank you.

    Robin Bright

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  5. Rebecca and her schoolgirl fixation on Green. Plainfield is tired of of the same lame strategy- blame it all on Green to hide all Rebecca and her hive is doing wrong

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    1. What exactly is Rebecca doing wrong?

      On the other hand, Jerry "I am the second most powerful person in New Jersey" Green lets Muhlenberg close, lets the people of Liberty Village live in filth, doesn't do a thing about the Raritan Valley one seat ride, can't collect money owed to Plainfield by the UCC, buys people with chicken dinners and low paying jobs, and handles himself like a common thug. I am tired of the same lame strategy, but it isn't Rebecca's.

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    2. took the one seat ride in 2new york city yesterday.it was wonderfull.

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    3. how do you figure jerry is the democratic chairman and has again gone against the will of the democratic party much like last year when he "supported" barbara buono but made deals with republicans to not help barbara so the wouldnt help campbell yes jerry we all no of the deal you and bramnick made. Its time for plainfield to throw out the self serving politician whos only interested in keeping his spot secure

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  6. Plainfield is tired of Green and not tired of getting rid of him. He is decisive, doesn't help Plainfield, just himself and his handlers, so he must GO! Let's get some responsible leaders and not those who want to hold onto power just to enrich themselves and other politicians. Next year Jerry has to go!

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  7. you are so right and she do need jerry green as she did before we here is the 2nd and the 3rd wards want and need a change from her face on the city council seat myself and other friends in the 2nd and 3rd ward will vote for CHANGE why not try a Republican that will bring about a new face and voice change the at large council seat need a one way person not a today a new democratic the next a regular democratic next after elected a new democratic. now running on the regular line. we need someone that are true to their whatever party now to bait and change.yes we see the councilwoman but what party do she truly belong to the voters need to know.but for this time around we my friends and i will vote republican to the at Large Seat

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  8. This 3rd ward democrat knows that nobody is perfect--not even politicians. This year I am voting for Rebecca Williams for another term on the council in spite of her fixation on Jerry Green (who, by the way, seemed to be fixated on her during the primary campaign). But I am also voting for Randy Bullock, the 3rd ward Republican candidate, because we don't need any more council members who need to be told by their party leader how to vote.

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    1. I hope you vote the same way for school board candidates and vote the Campbell slate. Who by the way, is no better than Jerry Green. The both pick candidates they know will vote the way they are instructed to.

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  9. No one should have more than two terms in any elected office including school boards. It's time for Rebecca, the fish frying campbells and everyone else that been in power more than two terms to sit down.

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    1. Rebecca is running for a second term. So times not up yet. She may have sharp elbows, but she's fighting a machine that has let most everyone down, and she's is a voice for sanity, and the 21st century. Not perfect, but worthy of re-election.

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  10. Limited terms are already available to us. It is called voting. If people refuse to vote, well, then what you get are the same people in office (look at Jerry and Stender). If you feel that strongly about other candidates - VOTE for them.

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