FREEHOLDERS: Van Blake loses endorsement, Carter as replacement
POLITICKERNJ (Five items: Oldest to newest) plus PLAINFIELD TODAY and JERRY GREEN'S PAGE
Dems dump Van Blake in Union County
By Max Pizarro | March 8th, 2010 - 1:08pm
Union County Democratic Committee Chair Charlotte DeFilippo and Assemblyman Jerry Green Green (D-Plainfield) this morning told Freeholder Rayland Van Blake of Plainfield that he wouldn't be getting the party line to run for a second term.
"As far as I can tell, they're looking to basically flip years in the upcoming election as far as the freeholder seat is concerned, between Linden and Plainfield, and I get bumped out because of that," said Van Blake, a former Plainfield City councilman and television actor who won off the line in 2007 as a member of the New Democrats.
"The assemblyman and the county chairman told me flat out that's what it was," Van Blake added.
There's a mayor's race in Linden this year, and Democrats want a freeholder candidate to help create line strength on the ballot in their bid to upend independent Mayor Richard Gerbounka.
Council President Robert Bunk, the Democratic Party candidate for mayor, has trouble on the ground in Linden owing to the anti-organization mayoral candidacy of Councilman Derek Armstead.
Moreover, the county's lone freeholder from Linden, Nance Ward, moved to Westfield.
Van Blake says the party's dumping him to run a Linden-based freeholder candidate.
"It would appear that way," he say, when asked if he believes the reasoning is to stregthen Bunk's bid against Gerbounka.
But that wasn't part of the meeting the freeholder had today.
"They told me I didn't have the support locally so they weren't going to take the chance," Van Blake said. "I know I didn't have the support of the mayor but I do have the support of the people. The New Democrats are still supportng me."
On his way in to a meeting with Green, Van Blake would not immediately comment on his next move until after he speaks with the veteran assemblyman
http://www.politickernj.com/max/37502/dems-dump-van-blake-union-county
DeFilippo: Van Blake 'disappointed' as freeholder
By Max Pizarro | March 8th, 2010 - 4:39pm
Union County Democratic County Chair Charlotte DeFilippo says Freeholder Rayland Van Blake is a nice guy.
"I like him, he's charming, but he has a tremendous amount of commitments," she said of the Plainfield freeholder she relieved of the party line this morning.
"There's a place for any good Democrat in the party," DeFilippo added. "He's just disappointed. You have to decide, or people will decide for you. People didn't see him at a lot of things - your involvement in county events has to be higher than the average person's - and people are disappointed. Do I like him? Absolutely. I just think he has to focus on one thing."
Van Blake's allies believe they have a Plainfield version of Cory Booker in the making in the television actor with a financial background, a former footfall standout in Plainfield.
But star power potential wasn't enough for DeFilippo, who said Van Blake simply didn't dig substantially enough into the freeholder job during his single term in office.
The county chair denied she intends to fill the seat with a candidate from Linden.
"I fully expect there will be a candidacy out of Plainfield," she said. "There will be somebody else who's high energy. It will be somebody from Plainfield.
"Would I take a Lindenite if no one was available?" DeFilippo added. "Absolutely."
The party will have a candidates' screening on Wednesday night.
http://www.politickernj.com/max/37518/defilippo-van-blake-disappointed-freeholder
[link]
Scutari: new freeholder candidate will be from
Plainfield or Linden - probably Plainfield
By Max Pizarro | March 9th, 2010 - 9:19am
State Sen. Nicholas Scutari (D-Linden) didn't protest the Democratic County Committee's decision to deny the party line to Union County Freeholder Rayland Van Blake.
"He's a nice guy, but we're going to respect the committee process," Scutari told PolitickerNJ.com.
Union County Democratic Committee Chair Charlotte DeFilippo said yesterday that Plainfield would be her first town of choice in seeking a Van Blake replacement, but didn't rule out Linden, which lacks a freeholder and is the scene this year of a mayoral contest.
"Both of those (Plainfield and Linden) have been considered, and one of those towns will certainly be represented - probably from Plainfield, in the near future," Scutari said.
http://www.politickernj.com/max/37524/scutari-new-freeholder-candidate-wil-be-plainfield-or-linden-probably-plainfield
[link]
Green backs Carter for freeholder seat in Union
By Max Pizarro | March 9th, 2010 - 12:07pm
Although he won't support Union County Freeholder Rayland Van Blake, Assemblyman Jerry Green (D-Plainfield) says his city will have a freeholder candidate on the Democratic Party line this year.
"I am calling on all of the county chairs and asking them to support (Plainfield Councilwoman) Linda Carter," Green told PolitickerNJ.com.
Like Van Blake, Carter comes out of the political fold of the Plainfield New Democrats.
Chair of the Democratic Party in Plainfield, Green said Van Blake - a budding television actor and freshman freeholder trying to juggle government and the demands of his entertainment career - had no support for re-election among local Dems: not among the establishment ranks, and not among the New Democrats.
A rare point of agreement between two feuding camps, and useful considering Union County Democratic Chair Charlotte DeFilippo's warning to Green that if the warring factions in Plainfield couldn't present a candidate they could agree on, she would turn to Linden - where she could use a freeholder candidate to build ballot strength for her mayoral candidate.
"When was the last time Adrian Mapp and I agreed on something?" said Green, referring to his political antagonist, who last year ran against Green's ally, Plainfield Mayor Sharon Robinson Briggs, and lost.
Mapp is himself a former freeholder and organization Democrat who lost Green's support and the party line in 2007 and subsequently became leader of the New Democrats.
"As the chairman, I wanted to give the county respect in terms of their concerns," added the assemblyman. "I reached out to Adrian Mapp (chair of the New Democrats) and the mayor and all the key players so they all understood what was going on. No disrespect to Rayland but a lot of people were complaining about him not spending enough time on the freeholder board. What we did was come up with is an alternate plan."
Green said he told Van Blake that if other chairs backed him, he would support him, but no one wanted to give the freeholder another shot.
"We all agreed that if there was going to be a problem with Rayland, we would present Lynda Carter, and so right now, I am calling all the county chairs on her behalf," said Green. "The New Democrats are not happy with Rayland's attendance record, and now we have a quality candidate."
The screening committee is scheduled for tomorrow evening.
Green looked at the positive.
"This is the first time we've all come together," he said. "They feel Rayland's a nice guy, but agree that you can't just show up on Thursday and expect that to be the extent of the job. I didn't just make the decision on my own. Lynda Carter is a New Democrat. Everybody understands I work very hard at what I do. If someone wants me to stick his neck out for a losing cause then I wish him luck."
The 31-year old Van Blake went to Green's office yesterday and complained, but the veteran, 71-year old Green said he stood his ground.
"You have to work at this business," Green said. "You can't just expect things are going to be handed to you on a platter. Look, I was 40 years old when I was kicked off the line because I didn't take my freeholder job seriously. I came back and I've never lost an election since. Rayland's been given the opportunity to figure this out ten years earlier than I did. If he wants to blame me, fine - but I know better than anyone, it's a valuable lesson."
http://www.politickernj.com/max/37534/green-backs-carter-freeholder-seat-union
[link]
Armstead picks up petitions to run for mayor of Linden
By Max Pizarro | March 9th, 2010 - 1:43pm
Linden 4th Ward Councilman Derek Armstead on Friday obtained petitions to run for mayor but hasn't yet declared his intentions officially in what at this point amounts to a piece of anti-establishment kabuki aimed at riling the local Democratic Party organization.
Armstead said if he runs he wouldn't be a spoiler in a primary against establishment Democratic Council President Robert Bunk.
"I would beat Bunk if I ran against him," boasted Armstead, who won re-election off the line in 2008. "How do you sell yourself as a vehicle of change when you have been council president for ten years?"
Armstead, a county employee in the IT department, has been on the council for 17 years.
This would be his first run for mayor.
If Bunk had talked to him about succeeding him as council president, "We would be having a totally different discussion right now," admitted Armstead, the lone black on the governing body. "But the Democratic Party of Linden has not been very good at all to my community."
Armstead said Bunk has already fixed his sights on 8th Ward Councilwoman Michelle Yamakaitas as his successor, the council's only woman.
"Discussions with me would have had to happen a long time ago," the councilman said. "In the next couple of months they couldn't make any gestures that would reverse the trend. Right now, people are asking me to run because they really think I have a chance to win, and we're giving it a lot of consideration."
If Armstead gets in the race, he would be fighting Bunk in June for a general election shot in November at Mayor Richard Gerbounka, an independent.
"Gerbounka's an independent, I'm a Democrat and Gov. Christie's a Republican," said Armstead. "It doesn't matter what political party you belong to, people are losing their homes. My belief is people like Bob Bunk are obstructionist and have tried to sabotage Gerbounka in what amounts to a betrayal of the public.
"If Robert Bunk becomes the nominee, I am a Democrat, I've always been a Democrat... that's the way I'll leave it. Sometimes primaries get nasty, and I don't think he's a very strong candidate."
As an off-the-line Democratic candidate in 2008, Armstead won with 63.06% of the vote.
He remembers Freeholder Rayland Van Blake campaigning against him that year. Now the party is dumping the Plainfield-based Van Blake, in part, Armstead believes, because Democrats want to run a freeholder candidate in Linden.
"They used him to try to get rid of me and now they're saying it's my fault that they're getting rid of him," Armstead said. "You can't make this stuff up."
For the record, Union County Democratic Chair Charlotte DeFilippo said she would turn to Linden only if Plainfield couldn't unify behind a Van Blake replacement, and today Assemblyman Jerry Green, chairman of the local Democratic Party, said the city's Democrats have come together around the candidacy of At-Large Councilwoman Linda Carter, a New Democrat.
http://vip.politickernj.com/max/37541/armstead-picks-petitions-run-mayor-linden
[link]
PLAINFIELD TODAY
Friday, 3/5/2010: "County Dems dumping Van Blake from Freeholder slot?"
Monday, 3/8/2010: "Van Blake dumped. Will Green put up with loss of Black Freeholder seat?"
Monday, 3/8/2010: "Freeholder seat: Robinson-Briggs or Carter?"
JERRY GREEN'S PAGE
Monday, 3/8/2010: "Straightening out this Freeholder fiasco"
(Note: Online stories may be taken down by their publisher after a period of time. Links posted here are from the original online publication of these pieces.)
(In accordance with Title 17 U.S.C. Section 107, this material is distributed without profit to those who have expressed a prior interest in receiving the included information for research and educational purposes. Plainfield Today, Plainfield Stuff and Clippings have no affiliation whatsoever with the originator of these articles nor are Plainfield Today, Plainfield Stuff or CLIPS endorsed or sponsored by the originator.)
Showing posts with label DeFillippo. Show all posts
Showing posts with label DeFillippo. Show all posts
Wednesday, March 10, 2010
Saturday, August 23, 2008
Cohen replacement - PolitckerNJ - Quijano wins narrowly, 87-82
PolitickerNJ - Wednesday, July 20, 2008
August 19, 2008 - 8:34pm
Quijano narrowly wins Cohen seat
By Matt Friedman
Category: LocalTags: Patricia Perkins-Auguste, Annette Quijano
MOUNTAINSIDE -- Attorney Annette Quijano came to the Union County Democratic Committee’s special election tonight as the party leaders’ favorite to replace former Assemblyman Neil Cohen in District 20, but Elizabeth Councilwoman Patricia Perkins-Auguste put up a serious fight.
Quijano, 46, an assistant counsel to Gov. Corzine, bested Perkins-Auguste 87-82 in a vote by county committee members from the legislative district’s four towns: Elizabeth, Kenilworth, Roselle and Union. It’s the first time a minority will fill a seat in the district, which despite having a minority-majority population, has long been represented by three white men.
Quijano’s term begins immediately. She replaces former Assemblyman Neil Cohen, who resigned from his seat amid allegations that he possessed child pornography on his legislative office computer. She will have to run again against a Republican in November to hold the seat, although the district’s registration breakdown makes her a near shoe-in.
Perkins-Auguste and Quijano both gave speeches in front of the committee members, but although members were voting to send a new legislator to Trenton, the meeting was closed to the press and general public.
The controversy surrounding Cohen made the occasion a little more somber than it otherwise would have been for Quijano.
“I’m excited, but I’m not. I’m saddened because these are the circumstances,” said Quijano, who didn’t let the accusation against Cohen get in the way of what she saw as an altruistic legislative legacy.
“I always admired Neil for being such an advocate for the people, and I have, as I see it, big shoes to try to fill. I used to sit in his Assembly financial institution committee and I saw first-hand how he was an advocate for the people,” she said.
Quijano, whose name did not pop up in the initial field of candidates, said that she was approached by “a few people” about running for the position. Although she’s never run for a legislative seat before, Quijano said that she’s always wanted to fill one.
But with such a whirlwind candidacy, Quijano hadn’t yet outlined much of her legislative agenda.
“I’m going to represent people in my community. We’re going through a tough economic period and I want to make sure that seniors don’t have to decide between groceries and medication. I want to bring jobs back into the district,” she said.
In her speech to the committee members – provided in written form after the meeting – Quijano listed her experience as a past experience as a campaign volunteer, her work as the Clerk of the Union County Freeholder board, and her work in as an assistant counsel during the McGreevey, Codey and Corzine administrations. She said that she would work to improve schools, fight for aid for cities and stabilize property taxes.
There were actually two votes tonight—one to send a legislator to fill part of Cohen’s unexpired term, and one on who should get the party’s nomination for the November election. After her defeat on the first vote, Perkins-Auguste moved to make the second vote unanimous for Quijano.
Despite that gracious move, however, Perkins-Auguste, who’s African-American, was critical of Quijano, accusing her of using her Hispanic heritage as a campaign ploy in a district where Hispanics outnumber blacks.
“She stood up there and said she was Latino… Basically she race-baited, but she’s entitled to that. You use what you have to your advantage.” she said.
Among Perkins-Auguste's allies was Joseph Adair, a reverend and relocation officer from Elizabeth who used to run the local NAACP has long been the councilwoman's political ally.
While not a county committee member himself, Adair bussed in 25 members from Elizabeth to support Perkins-Auguste, who he said had a better record of public service than Quijano.
“I don’t even know who[Quijano] is. I’ve lived in Union County for 46 years. Never heard of her. I have a problem with that," he said.
Although the local party’s heavy hitters like State Sen. Ray Lesniak, Assemblyman/Democratic State Chairman Joe Cryan and County Chairwoman Charlotte DeFilippo remained officially neutral, Perkins-Auguste cast herself as the rebel candidate against the machine. She did, however, have Elizabeth Mayor J. Christian Bollwage – a close Lesniak ally—behind her. Perkins-Auguste also expressed disappointment that committee members from Roselle went with Quijano instead of her.
“I went up against the machine, the political power brokers of the stat eof New Jersey. I lost by five votes. Ray Lesniak, Joe Cryan and Charlotte DeFilippo. People I have great respect for,” she said. “I believe in God and that’s who I get my direction from. I don’t believe in backroom politics. I believe in serving the people.”
Freeholder Director Angel Estrada, who took his name out of the mix for the seat after he found that “the numbers didn’t add up,” was forthright about the importance of the seat being filled by a person of Hispanic heritage.
“The 20th legislative district is a Latino district, no matter what anybody claims,” he said. “The reality is we need to start recognizing Latinos' contribution to our society in terms of the work we do every day.”
Quijano, however, disputed Perkins-Auguste’s claim that her ethnicity is what ultimately won her the seat.
“I can’t say it’s solely because I’m latino. If you saw a number of individuals here, they were from a lot of nationalities, and I want to represent all of the community.
Defilippo, meanwhile, played up the fact that the race for the seat came down to two women, showcasing what she said was an effort to recruit more women into local government.
“I think were both were very articulate, but Annette has a depth of government experience,” she said.
-------------------------------------------
Update: Below is the response from Union County Republican Chairman Phil Morin.
"Tonight, the Union County Democratic machine had an opportunity to fill a disgraced former assemblyman's seat with a fresh face of change. Instead, party insiders have selected someone who represents more of the same. Instead of choosing someone who will change the culture of corruption in Trenton, they have chosen someone who is inextricably linked with the failed policies of the Corzine and McGreevey administrations. Undoubtedly, the newest member of the Trenton aristocracy will be a loyal footsoldier who will blindly vote for higher property taxes, bigger government and sweetheart deals for connected insiders.
It is hard to believe that someone who has served as legal counsel for Governor Corzine and undoubtedly advised him on initiatives such as the ill-fated toll tax plan to the latest COAH tax legislative disaster will be any different than her predecessor, who was more concerned with sparing a vicious dog's life than reducing the financial pressures on the overtaxed citizens of the 20th District.
Address :
Comments
Lesniak? DeFillippo? Cryan?
posted by Mr. Democrat
Was Quijano the candidate of Lesniak? I hadn't seen that reported anywhere.
Very close race. Makes it seem like the Bosses aren't in solid control (unless they just didn't have a preference between the two).
08/19/08 8:46 pm
------------------------------------------------
Phil Morin -A stand up guy offers good insights and interesting
posted by KathyCallahan
analysis of the -same old same old unispired and entirely predictable machine.
08/20/08 7:44 am
----------------------------------------------
They are in control, the bosses
posted by bitaryo
Remember the meeting was closed to the press and the public. What is reported is stage managed.
Still can't figure out why it is a Latino district with only a 24% share of the population.
08/20/08 7:52 am
Address :
August 19, 2008 - 8:34pm
Quijano narrowly wins Cohen seat
By Matt Friedman
Category: LocalTags: Patricia Perkins-Auguste, Annette Quijano
MOUNTAINSIDE -- Attorney Annette Quijano came to the Union County Democratic Committee’s special election tonight as the party leaders’ favorite to replace former Assemblyman Neil Cohen in District 20, but Elizabeth Councilwoman Patricia Perkins-Auguste put up a serious fight.
Quijano, 46, an assistant counsel to Gov. Corzine, bested Perkins-Auguste 87-82 in a vote by county committee members from the legislative district’s four towns: Elizabeth, Kenilworth, Roselle and Union. It’s the first time a minority will fill a seat in the district, which despite having a minority-majority population, has long been represented by three white men.
Quijano’s term begins immediately. She replaces former Assemblyman Neil Cohen, who resigned from his seat amid allegations that he possessed child pornography on his legislative office computer. She will have to run again against a Republican in November to hold the seat, although the district’s registration breakdown makes her a near shoe-in.
Perkins-Auguste and Quijano both gave speeches in front of the committee members, but although members were voting to send a new legislator to Trenton, the meeting was closed to the press and general public.
The controversy surrounding Cohen made the occasion a little more somber than it otherwise would have been for Quijano.
“I’m excited, but I’m not. I’m saddened because these are the circumstances,” said Quijano, who didn’t let the accusation against Cohen get in the way of what she saw as an altruistic legislative legacy.
“I always admired Neil for being such an advocate for the people, and I have, as I see it, big shoes to try to fill. I used to sit in his Assembly financial institution committee and I saw first-hand how he was an advocate for the people,” she said.
Quijano, whose name did not pop up in the initial field of candidates, said that she was approached by “a few people” about running for the position. Although she’s never run for a legislative seat before, Quijano said that she’s always wanted to fill one.
But with such a whirlwind candidacy, Quijano hadn’t yet outlined much of her legislative agenda.
“I’m going to represent people in my community. We’re going through a tough economic period and I want to make sure that seniors don’t have to decide between groceries and medication. I want to bring jobs back into the district,” she said.
In her speech to the committee members – provided in written form after the meeting – Quijano listed her experience as a past experience as a campaign volunteer, her work as the Clerk of the Union County Freeholder board, and her work in as an assistant counsel during the McGreevey, Codey and Corzine administrations. She said that she would work to improve schools, fight for aid for cities and stabilize property taxes.
There were actually two votes tonight—one to send a legislator to fill part of Cohen’s unexpired term, and one on who should get the party’s nomination for the November election. After her defeat on the first vote, Perkins-Auguste moved to make the second vote unanimous for Quijano.
Despite that gracious move, however, Perkins-Auguste, who’s African-American, was critical of Quijano, accusing her of using her Hispanic heritage as a campaign ploy in a district where Hispanics outnumber blacks.
“She stood up there and said she was Latino… Basically she race-baited, but she’s entitled to that. You use what you have to your advantage.” she said.
Among Perkins-Auguste's allies was Joseph Adair, a reverend and relocation officer from Elizabeth who used to run the local NAACP has long been the councilwoman's political ally.
While not a county committee member himself, Adair bussed in 25 members from Elizabeth to support Perkins-Auguste, who he said had a better record of public service than Quijano.
“I don’t even know who[Quijano] is. I’ve lived in Union County for 46 years. Never heard of her. I have a problem with that," he said.
Although the local party’s heavy hitters like State Sen. Ray Lesniak, Assemblyman/Democratic State Chairman Joe Cryan and County Chairwoman Charlotte DeFilippo remained officially neutral, Perkins-Auguste cast herself as the rebel candidate against the machine. She did, however, have Elizabeth Mayor J. Christian Bollwage – a close Lesniak ally—behind her. Perkins-Auguste also expressed disappointment that committee members from Roselle went with Quijano instead of her.
“I went up against the machine, the political power brokers of the stat eof New Jersey. I lost by five votes. Ray Lesniak, Joe Cryan and Charlotte DeFilippo. People I have great respect for,” she said. “I believe in God and that’s who I get my direction from. I don’t believe in backroom politics. I believe in serving the people.”
Freeholder Director Angel Estrada, who took his name out of the mix for the seat after he found that “the numbers didn’t add up,” was forthright about the importance of the seat being filled by a person of Hispanic heritage.
“The 20th legislative district is a Latino district, no matter what anybody claims,” he said. “The reality is we need to start recognizing Latinos' contribution to our society in terms of the work we do every day.”
Quijano, however, disputed Perkins-Auguste’s claim that her ethnicity is what ultimately won her the seat.
“I can’t say it’s solely because I’m latino. If you saw a number of individuals here, they were from a lot of nationalities, and I want to represent all of the community.
Defilippo, meanwhile, played up the fact that the race for the seat came down to two women, showcasing what she said was an effort to recruit more women into local government.
“I think were both were very articulate, but Annette has a depth of government experience,” she said.
-------------------------------------------
Update: Below is the response from Union County Republican Chairman Phil Morin.
"Tonight, the Union County Democratic machine had an opportunity to fill a disgraced former assemblyman's seat with a fresh face of change. Instead, party insiders have selected someone who represents more of the same. Instead of choosing someone who will change the culture of corruption in Trenton, they have chosen someone who is inextricably linked with the failed policies of the Corzine and McGreevey administrations. Undoubtedly, the newest member of the Trenton aristocracy will be a loyal footsoldier who will blindly vote for higher property taxes, bigger government and sweetheart deals for connected insiders.
It is hard to believe that someone who has served as legal counsel for Governor Corzine and undoubtedly advised him on initiatives such as the ill-fated toll tax plan to the latest COAH tax legislative disaster will be any different than her predecessor, who was more concerned with sparing a vicious dog's life than reducing the financial pressures on the overtaxed citizens of the 20th District.
Address :
Comments
Lesniak? DeFillippo? Cryan?
posted by Mr. Democrat
Was Quijano the candidate of Lesniak? I hadn't seen that reported anywhere.
Very close race. Makes it seem like the Bosses aren't in solid control (unless they just didn't have a preference between the two).
08/19/08 8:46 pm
------------------------------------------------
Phil Morin -A stand up guy offers good insights and interesting
posted by KathyCallahan
analysis of the -same old same old unispired and entirely predictable machine.
08/20/08 7:44 am
----------------------------------------------
They are in control, the bosses
posted by bitaryo
Remember the meeting was closed to the press and the public. What is reported is stage managed.
Still can't figure out why it is a Latino district with only a 24% share of the population.
08/20/08 7:52 am
Address :
Friday, November 09, 2007
DeFilippo - Ledger - State launches investigation
Published in the Star-Ledger, Friday, November 9, 2007
Probe focuses on Union politicos
Subpoenas seek info from top Democrats
BY IAN T. SHEARN
Star-Ledger Staff
State officials have opened an investigation into matters involving some of Union County's most powerful Democrats, The Star-Ledger has learned.
The focus of the ongoing investigation points toward county Democratic Chairwoman Charlotte DeFilippo, the former freeholder who heads the Union County Improvement Authority and is a legislative aide to Assemblyman Neil Cohen (D-Union).
DeFilippo confirmed the existence of five subpoenas that demand documents and information about her public and private business dealings. The contents of the subpoenas, which were served in September and October, were described by DeFilippo this week in an interview.
"When you wear several hats, you acquire enemies over the years," she said.
DeFilippo is a towering political figure in Union County, where Democrats dominate most town councils and have held a 9-0 lock on the freeholder board since 1997. She does not hold elected office. But as head of the county committee, DeFilippo hand-picks the Democratic candidates for freeholder, mayor and council in the county.
According to DeFilippo, the subpoenas seek:
According to documents, Camelot's owners also include Assemblyman Joseph Cryan (D-Union), who said he was a "passive investor" with a 5 percent stake in the firm. Last year, he reported between $10,000 and $25,000 in income from Camelot on his state financial disclosure form.
"I haven't seen any subpoenas, haven't been contacted by anyone," said Cryan, who is also state Democratic chairman.
DeFilippo, who owns 10 percent of the company, is not required to report how much she makes from Camelot, and declined to tell The Star-Ledger. DeFilippo also said she has had no involvement with the operation of the company since she helped promote it during its startup three years ago.
"I'm a small piece of a cog of the wheel," DeFilippo said. Asked why she was brought into the partnership she said, "because I know a lot of people."
The late Sen. Joseph Suliga (D-Union) was a founding partner in Camelot, which performs title searches, sells title insurance and refinances mortgages, DeFilippo said. Other founding partners included Steve Edwards, she said.
Edwards is also the founder of Business & Government Insurance Agency, which does business with numerous governmental agencies in New Jersey, including six towns in Union County. Phone and e-mail messages left with Edwards yesterday were not returned.
DeFilippo said the Union County Improvement Authority had never used Camelot Title in any of its real estate transactions.
Real estate records do show that Camelot filed papers in 2005 as part of a deal in which the Improvement Authority sold land to a developer. But it appears Camelot was hired by the developer, and not the Improvement Authority.
"We have absolutely never issued any money to Camelot," she said.
A phone message left yesterday for Robert Sebia, who is Camelot's president, was not returned.
As for her $10,000-per-year job as a legislative aide to Cohen, DeFilippo said she has been doing that job since 1990 and provides Cohen analysis and recommendations on legislative and budget matters.
Cohen corroborated her explanation.
"She has one of the most brilliant minds in the state," he said.
Another subpoena directed at DeFilippo and the Union County Democratic Committee asks for all records pertaining to the 2006 Roselle primary, DeFilippo said.
Criminal Justice investigators have also served subpoenas on the county Board of Elections, officials have said, asking about the handling of absentee ballots during last year's Democratic primary.
DeFilippo said the state subpoena delivered to her committee seeks all records of the party's involvement in that race.
The subpoena served on the Improvement Authority is less specific.
"Basically they want to see everything we've done here since 2004," she said. "We'll be shipping it in a truck."
DeFilippo said she is complying with all the subpoenas and welcomes the scrutiny.
"I've been involved in politics for 35 years, and I do it in the most aboveboard and transparent manner," she said. "I just want to know who's going to say, 'Sorry, Charlotte' when this is all over."
Jonathan Casiano contributed to this report. Ian T. Shearn may be reached at ishearn@starledger.com or (973) 392-1671.
Online story here. Archived here.
(Note: Online stories may be taken down by their publisher after a period of time or made available for a fee. Links posted here is from the original online publication of this piece.)
(In accordance with Title 17 U.S.C. Section 107, this material is distributed without profit to those who have expressed a prior interest in receiving the included information for research and educational purposes. Plainfield Today, Plainfield Stuff and Clippings have no affiliation whatsoever with the originator of these articles nor are Plainfield Today, Plainfield Stuff or Clippings endorsed or sponsored by the originator.)
Probe focuses on Union politicos
Subpoenas seek info from top Democrats
BY IAN T. SHEARN
Star-Ledger Staff
State officials have opened an investigation into matters involving some of Union County's most powerful Democrats, The Star-Ledger has learned.
The focus of the ongoing investigation points toward county Democratic Chairwoman Charlotte DeFilippo, the former freeholder who heads the Union County Improvement Authority and is a legislative aide to Assemblyman Neil Cohen (D-Union).
DeFilippo confirmed the existence of five subpoenas that demand documents and information about her public and private business dealings. The contents of the subpoenas, which were served in September and October, were described by DeFilippo this week in an interview.
"When you wear several hats, you acquire enemies over the years," she said.
DeFilippo is a towering political figure in Union County, where Democrats dominate most town councils and have held a 9-0 lock on the freeholder board since 1997. She does not hold elected office. But as head of the county committee, DeFilippo hand-picks the Democratic candidates for freeholder, mayor and council in the county.
According to DeFilippo, the subpoenas seek:
- Financial and other documents for the last three years from the Improvement Authority, which each year awards millions in contracts to construction, law and engineering firms.
- An explanation of her duties as Cohen's aide. Cohen said he also received a subpoena in late October, asking for any records pertaining to his employment of DeFilippo.
- All records relating to the county Democratic Committee's involvement in last year's primary election in Roselle, in which allegations of voter fraud are being investigated by the state Division of Criminal Justice.
- A client list and financial records from Camelot Title Agency, a Woodbridge company in which DeFilippo owns a minority stake.
According to documents, Camelot's owners also include Assemblyman Joseph Cryan (D-Union), who said he was a "passive investor" with a 5 percent stake in the firm. Last year, he reported between $10,000 and $25,000 in income from Camelot on his state financial disclosure form.
"I haven't seen any subpoenas, haven't been contacted by anyone," said Cryan, who is also state Democratic chairman.
DeFilippo, who owns 10 percent of the company, is not required to report how much she makes from Camelot, and declined to tell The Star-Ledger. DeFilippo also said she has had no involvement with the operation of the company since she helped promote it during its startup three years ago.
"I'm a small piece of a cog of the wheel," DeFilippo said. Asked why she was brought into the partnership she said, "because I know a lot of people."
The late Sen. Joseph Suliga (D-Union) was a founding partner in Camelot, which performs title searches, sells title insurance and refinances mortgages, DeFilippo said. Other founding partners included Steve Edwards, she said.
Edwards is also the founder of Business & Government Insurance Agency, which does business with numerous governmental agencies in New Jersey, including six towns in Union County. Phone and e-mail messages left with Edwards yesterday were not returned.
DeFilippo said the Union County Improvement Authority had never used Camelot Title in any of its real estate transactions.
Real estate records do show that Camelot filed papers in 2005 as part of a deal in which the Improvement Authority sold land to a developer. But it appears Camelot was hired by the developer, and not the Improvement Authority.
"We have absolutely never issued any money to Camelot," she said.
A phone message left yesterday for Robert Sebia, who is Camelot's president, was not returned.
As for her $10,000-per-year job as a legislative aide to Cohen, DeFilippo said she has been doing that job since 1990 and provides Cohen analysis and recommendations on legislative and budget matters.
Cohen corroborated her explanation.
"She has one of the most brilliant minds in the state," he said.
Another subpoena directed at DeFilippo and the Union County Democratic Committee asks for all records pertaining to the 2006 Roselle primary, DeFilippo said.
Criminal Justice investigators have also served subpoenas on the county Board of Elections, officials have said, asking about the handling of absentee ballots during last year's Democratic primary.
DeFilippo said the state subpoena delivered to her committee seeks all records of the party's involvement in that race.
The subpoena served on the Improvement Authority is less specific.
"Basically they want to see everything we've done here since 2004," she said. "We'll be shipping it in a truck."
DeFilippo said she is complying with all the subpoenas and welcomes the scrutiny.
"I've been involved in politics for 35 years, and I do it in the most aboveboard and transparent manner," she said. "I just want to know who's going to say, 'Sorry, Charlotte' when this is all over."
Jonathan Casiano contributed to this report. Ian T. Shearn may be reached at ishearn@starledger.com or (973) 392-1671.
Online story here. Archived here.
(Note: Online stories may be taken down by their publisher after a period of time or made available for a fee. Links posted here is from the original online publication of this piece.)
(In accordance with Title 17 U.S.C. Section 107, this material is distributed without profit to those who have expressed a prior interest in receiving the included information for research and educational purposes. Plainfield Today, Plainfield Stuff and Clippings have no affiliation whatsoever with the originator of these articles nor are Plainfield Today, Plainfield Stuff or Clippings endorsed or sponsored by the originator.)
Friday, July 20, 2007
Redevelopment - Ledger - Newark's Mulberry Street Plan Overturned
Published in the Star-Ledger, Friday, July 20,2007
Setback for Newark condo project
Judge rules city failed to prove that the 14-acre site
on Mulberry Street is 'blighted'
BY KATIE WANG
Star-Ledger Staff
A Superior Court judge in Essex County has dealt a major blow to a plan to build 2,000 condominiums in downtown Newark, saying the city failed to prove the area in question is deteriorating and in need of redevelopment.
The 71-page decision, issued yesterday, cites the watershed state Supreme Court decision, Gallenthin Realty Development Inc. vs. Borough of Paulsboro, handed down earlier this year that limits the government's power to seize land.
In the Newark case, Judge Marie P. Simonelli said the city cannot designate the 14-acre Mulberry Street area "blighted" simply because the property could be used for better purposes. Property owners fought the designation, saying the area was still thriving and that they did not want their land to be seized through eminent domain.
"The court finds that the city declared the entire Mulberry Street area as an area in need of redevelopment solely because it is not properly utilized and fully productive," Simonelli said in her decision. "Under the Gallenthin holding, this declaration does not meet the constitutional requirement of blight and must be invalidated and set aside."
The decision puts the future of the condo project in jeopardy, though all parties involved disagreed on whether the project is dead or viable in an amended form. The Mulberry Street condo project, which was to be developed by the Newark Redevelopment Corp., is slated for a prime tract one block from the Prudential Center arena, scheduled to open in October.
Stefan Pryor, the deputy mayor in charge of economic development, said the Booker administration is analyzing the judge's decision and refused to say whether it will appeal.
"The outcome of the case will not affect the arena project," he said.
John Buonocore, the attorney representing the plaintiffs, declared the condo project dead.
"We are delighted that the court saw through this pre-arranged land grab on behalf of politically favored developers," Buonocore said. "The ruling sends a message to politicians across the state that the courts will not sustain economic development takings under the guise of the redevelopment laws."
Bruce J. Wishnia, one of the principals of Newark Redevelopment Corp., said the decision is a sad day for the city and the state. He said he is not sure what this means for the overall project.
"If the Mulberry Street area is not in need of redevelopment, then the court needs to tell us what kind of area would be," Wishnia said. "If this decision if not reversed, it will effectively shut the door on urban redevelopment in our state."
The Mulberry decision comes at a time when land and redevelopment issues are under intense public scrutiny in a city that has struggled for decades to rebuild itself.
One week ago, Sharpe James, who served as mayor for two decades, was indicted on charges he steered lucrative land deals to companion Tamika Riley. The property owners in the Mulberry case have long alleged political contributions from the developers swayed council members to vote in favor of declaring the area in need of redevelopment.
The judge concluded her opinion with a tart reference to James' criminal charges.
"This evidence certainly provides cause to question the results and validity of the redevelopment investigation," she said. "However, the court mentions it for historical purposes only and makes no determination of the merits of plaintiff's corruption claim. It appears that such a determination may be made in the recently initiated criminal proceedings involving former Mayor James."
The Mulberry Street Redevelopment project made its debut five years ago during James' administration. In November 2002, Wishnia and his partner, Emile Farina, a former aide to then Councilwoman Bessie Walker, pitched the idea to Nathan Allen, director of the city's Department of Economic and Housing Development.
Plans called for the Newark Redevelopment Corp. to negotiate with property owners for their land. If negotiations failed, the developers planned to ask the city to use its condemnation powers to seize those properties.
According to Simonelli's ruling, there is no evidence any negotiations took place.
Instead, she said, the city pursued an investigation into declaring the area in need of redevelopment, paving the way for condemnation.
In her decision, Simonelli leveled stinging criticism at the snug relationship between developers and officials in the city. Attorneys, relatives and consultants affiliated with Wishnia and Farina donated an additional $53,325 to some council members when they were making critical decisions about the project, according to the plaintiffs.
"There is evidence in the present case that the Mulberry Street Redevelopment project and NRC's role as its developer was "a done deal," a fait accompli, before the required statutory redevelopment process began," Simonelli said.
City-hired planner David Roberts issued a report in April 2004 declaring the area in need of redevelopment because the parking lots, storage yards and businesses in the area "consumes land that could otherwise be available for much more productive uses."
But Simonelli faulted Roberts' report, saying it lacked empirical evidence to support his conclusions.
On Oct. 14, 2004, the planning board passed a resolution recommending the city declare the Mulberry Street area in need of redevelopment. The city council agreed and on Nov. 3, 2004, it passed a resolution declaring the area in need of redevelopment.
Katie Wang may be reached at kwang@starledger.com or (973) 392-1504.
Link to online story.
(Note: Online stories may be taken down by their publisher after a period of time or made available for a fee. Links posted here is from the original online publication of this piece.)
(In accordance with Title 17 U.S.C. Section 107, this material is distributed without profit to those who have expressed a prior interest in receiving the included information for research and educational purposes. Plainfield Today, Plainfield Stuff and Clippings have no affiliation whatsoever with the originator of these articles nor are Plainfield Today, Plainfield Stuff or Clippings endorsed or sponsored by the originator.)
Setback for Newark condo project
Judge rules city failed to prove that the 14-acre site
on Mulberry Street is 'blighted'
BY KATIE WANG
Star-Ledger Staff
A Superior Court judge in Essex County has dealt a major blow to a plan to build 2,000 condominiums in downtown Newark, saying the city failed to prove the area in question is deteriorating and in need of redevelopment.
The 71-page decision, issued yesterday, cites the watershed state Supreme Court decision, Gallenthin Realty Development Inc. vs. Borough of Paulsboro, handed down earlier this year that limits the government's power to seize land.
In the Newark case, Judge Marie P. Simonelli said the city cannot designate the 14-acre Mulberry Street area "blighted" simply because the property could be used for better purposes. Property owners fought the designation, saying the area was still thriving and that they did not want their land to be seized through eminent domain.
"The court finds that the city declared the entire Mulberry Street area as an area in need of redevelopment solely because it is not properly utilized and fully productive," Simonelli said in her decision. "Under the Gallenthin holding, this declaration does not meet the constitutional requirement of blight and must be invalidated and set aside."
The decision puts the future of the condo project in jeopardy, though all parties involved disagreed on whether the project is dead or viable in an amended form. The Mulberry Street condo project, which was to be developed by the Newark Redevelopment Corp., is slated for a prime tract one block from the Prudential Center arena, scheduled to open in October.
Stefan Pryor, the deputy mayor in charge of economic development, said the Booker administration is analyzing the judge's decision and refused to say whether it will appeal.
"The outcome of the case will not affect the arena project," he said.
John Buonocore, the attorney representing the plaintiffs, declared the condo project dead.
"We are delighted that the court saw through this pre-arranged land grab on behalf of politically favored developers," Buonocore said. "The ruling sends a message to politicians across the state that the courts will not sustain economic development takings under the guise of the redevelopment laws."
Bruce J. Wishnia, one of the principals of Newark Redevelopment Corp., said the decision is a sad day for the city and the state. He said he is not sure what this means for the overall project.
"If the Mulberry Street area is not in need of redevelopment, then the court needs to tell us what kind of area would be," Wishnia said. "If this decision if not reversed, it will effectively shut the door on urban redevelopment in our state."
The Mulberry decision comes at a time when land and redevelopment issues are under intense public scrutiny in a city that has struggled for decades to rebuild itself.
One week ago, Sharpe James, who served as mayor for two decades, was indicted on charges he steered lucrative land deals to companion Tamika Riley. The property owners in the Mulberry case have long alleged political contributions from the developers swayed council members to vote in favor of declaring the area in need of redevelopment.
The judge concluded her opinion with a tart reference to James' criminal charges.
"This evidence certainly provides cause to question the results and validity of the redevelopment investigation," she said. "However, the court mentions it for historical purposes only and makes no determination of the merits of plaintiff's corruption claim. It appears that such a determination may be made in the recently initiated criminal proceedings involving former Mayor James."
The Mulberry Street Redevelopment project made its debut five years ago during James' administration. In November 2002, Wishnia and his partner, Emile Farina, a former aide to then Councilwoman Bessie Walker, pitched the idea to Nathan Allen, director of the city's Department of Economic and Housing Development.
Plans called for the Newark Redevelopment Corp. to negotiate with property owners for their land. If negotiations failed, the developers planned to ask the city to use its condemnation powers to seize those properties.
According to Simonelli's ruling, there is no evidence any negotiations took place.
Instead, she said, the city pursued an investigation into declaring the area in need of redevelopment, paving the way for condemnation.
In her decision, Simonelli leveled stinging criticism at the snug relationship between developers and officials in the city. Attorneys, relatives and consultants affiliated with Wishnia and Farina donated an additional $53,325 to some council members when they were making critical decisions about the project, according to the plaintiffs.
"There is evidence in the present case that the Mulberry Street Redevelopment project and NRC's role as its developer was "a done deal," a fait accompli, before the required statutory redevelopment process began," Simonelli said.
City-hired planner David Roberts issued a report in April 2004 declaring the area in need of redevelopment because the parking lots, storage yards and businesses in the area "consumes land that could otherwise be available for much more productive uses."
But Simonelli faulted Roberts' report, saying it lacked empirical evidence to support his conclusions.
On Oct. 14, 2004, the planning board passed a resolution recommending the city declare the Mulberry Street area in need of redevelopment. The city council agreed and on Nov. 3, 2004, it passed a resolution declaring the area in need of redevelopment.
Katie Wang may be reached at kwang@starledger.com or (973) 392-1504.
Link to online story.
(Note: Online stories may be taken down by their publisher after a period of time or made available for a fee. Links posted here is from the original online publication of this piece.)
(In accordance with Title 17 U.S.C. Section 107, this material is distributed without profit to those who have expressed a prior interest in receiving the included information for research and educational purposes. Plainfield Today, Plainfield Stuff and Clippings have no affiliation whatsoever with the originator of these articles nor are Plainfield Today, Plainfield Stuff or Clippings endorsed or sponsored by the originator.)
Sunday, July 01, 2007
Elections - Courier - 2005 Race could be most costly ever
Published in the Courier News, Thursday, November 10, 2005
Dust in Plainfield settling
Race for mayor could end up being the most costly in the city's history.
By CHAD WEIHRAUCH
Staff Writer
PLAINFIELD -- A day after Sharon Robinson-Briggs won the city's highest elected office and said she would work to heal the political split in Plainfield, a final election tally still was unavailable.
However, one thing that did seem clear in this year's mayoral contests -- the primary and general election campaigns combined -- probably will end up being the most expensive in the Queen City's history, costing at least $320,000.
The Union County and Plainfield clerks' offices said Wednesday that write-in votes, most of which likely will go to incumbent Mayor Albert T. McWilliams, still were being counted.
Robinson-Briggs, a Democrat, received 4,336 votes, and Independent Robert Ferraro picked up 1,118 of the unofficial total 8,787 cast. That would leave McWilliams with a maximum 3,333 votes, assuming all remaining voters chose him -- though that probably was not the case.
McWilliams said he estimated he had received about 2,300 votes.
Robinson-Briggs was not immediately available for comment, but McWilliams added Wednesday he thought he had been beaten by money.
"Clearly it was mainly outside influences that bankrolled the Robinson-Briggs campaign, and that's been clear from the beginning. And I guess that's New Jersey politics," he said.
However, Assemblyman Jerry Green, Robinson-Briggs' campaign manager, said the mayor's loss was a result of discontent.
"He has to accept the responsibility that the city and the people in the city do not think the city was moving in the right direction," Green said.
McWilliams, 52, is a former Democrat and two-term incumbent who lost his re-election bid in the June primary to Robinson-Briggs.
He later switched his political affiliation to become a Republican and fill a vacancy on the ticket when a previous GOP candidate stepped down. However, the state Supreme Court refused his attempt to appear on the ballot as a Republican, upholding a law that says candidates cannot run for one party's nomination in the primary, then switch parties and run for the same office in the general election.
McWilliams ran as a write-in candidate for mayor in Tuesday's election.
Robinson-Briggs, 46, is a school board member who, with her win, becomes Plainfield's first woman mayor.
According to documents filed with the state Election Law Enforcement Commission, Robinson-Briggs' campaign had raised $201,225 through the end of June for primary spending. McWilliams had collected $77,250 in the same period.
The $201,225 was more than the three Union County Democratic freeholder candidates collectively had raised through Oct. 28 -- for the general election -- through their political committee, Union County Victory 2005.
However, the spending frenzy fell off in Plainfield after the primary.
As of 11 days before the general election, McWilliams had raised even more than Robinson-Briggs, claiming just $25,590, compared to her $23,828.
By contrast, in the last mayoral race in 2001 -- the only other year for which figures are available on the Election Law Enforcement Commission's Web site -- the two mayoral candidates combined raised only about one-fifth of the total spent this year: $64,561.
McWilliams was a Democrat then, and out-spent Ferraro, who was then a Republican, by about 4-to-1.
Even the more than $300,000 spent this year by both campaigns is deceptive, McWilliams said, because it does not include outside money spent in Plainfield supporting the entire regular Democratic slate.
"We estimate that they spent from the primary alone something approaching half a million dollars," he said.
Still, Green said Democrats spent relatively little money in the run-up to the general election. After bouncing McWilliams from the party's slate in June, more expensive advertising methods were abandoned, he added.
"There was no reason to get into spending money with a TV campaign," he said.
Final campaign funding reports must be filed with the state in about three weeks.
Chad Weihrauch can be reached at (908) 707-3137 or cweihrau@gannett.com
Link to online story.
(Note: Online stories may be taken down by their publisher after a period of time or made available for a fee. Links posted here is from the original online publication of this piece.)
(In accordance with Title 17 U.S.C. Section 107, this material is distributed without profit to those who have expressed a prior interest in receiving the included information for research and educational purposes. Plainfield Today, Plainfield Stuff and Clippings have no affiliation whatsoever with the originator of these articles nor are Plainfield Today, Plainfield Stuff or Clippings endorsed or sponsored by the originator.)
Dust in Plainfield settling
Race for mayor could end up being the most costly in the city's history.
By CHAD WEIHRAUCH
Staff Writer
PLAINFIELD -- A day after Sharon Robinson-Briggs won the city's highest elected office and said she would work to heal the political split in Plainfield, a final election tally still was unavailable.
However, one thing that did seem clear in this year's mayoral contests -- the primary and general election campaigns combined -- probably will end up being the most expensive in the Queen City's history, costing at least $320,000.
The Union County and Plainfield clerks' offices said Wednesday that write-in votes, most of which likely will go to incumbent Mayor Albert T. McWilliams, still were being counted.
Robinson-Briggs, a Democrat, received 4,336 votes, and Independent Robert Ferraro picked up 1,118 of the unofficial total 8,787 cast. That would leave McWilliams with a maximum 3,333 votes, assuming all remaining voters chose him -- though that probably was not the case.
McWilliams said he estimated he had received about 2,300 votes.
Robinson-Briggs was not immediately available for comment, but McWilliams added Wednesday he thought he had been beaten by money.
"Clearly it was mainly outside influences that bankrolled the Robinson-Briggs campaign, and that's been clear from the beginning. And I guess that's New Jersey politics," he said.
However, Assemblyman Jerry Green, Robinson-Briggs' campaign manager, said the mayor's loss was a result of discontent.
"He has to accept the responsibility that the city and the people in the city do not think the city was moving in the right direction," Green said.
McWilliams, 52, is a former Democrat and two-term incumbent who lost his re-election bid in the June primary to Robinson-Briggs.
He later switched his political affiliation to become a Republican and fill a vacancy on the ticket when a previous GOP candidate stepped down. However, the state Supreme Court refused his attempt to appear on the ballot as a Republican, upholding a law that says candidates cannot run for one party's nomination in the primary, then switch parties and run for the same office in the general election.
McWilliams ran as a write-in candidate for mayor in Tuesday's election.
Robinson-Briggs, 46, is a school board member who, with her win, becomes Plainfield's first woman mayor.
According to documents filed with the state Election Law Enforcement Commission, Robinson-Briggs' campaign had raised $201,225 through the end of June for primary spending. McWilliams had collected $77,250 in the same period.
The $201,225 was more than the three Union County Democratic freeholder candidates collectively had raised through Oct. 28 -- for the general election -- through their political committee, Union County Victory 2005.
However, the spending frenzy fell off in Plainfield after the primary.
As of 11 days before the general election, McWilliams had raised even more than Robinson-Briggs, claiming just $25,590, compared to her $23,828.
By contrast, in the last mayoral race in 2001 -- the only other year for which figures are available on the Election Law Enforcement Commission's Web site -- the two mayoral candidates combined raised only about one-fifth of the total spent this year: $64,561.
McWilliams was a Democrat then, and out-spent Ferraro, who was then a Republican, by about 4-to-1.
Even the more than $300,000 spent this year by both campaigns is deceptive, McWilliams said, because it does not include outside money spent in Plainfield supporting the entire regular Democratic slate.
"We estimate that they spent from the primary alone something approaching half a million dollars," he said.
Still, Green said Democrats spent relatively little money in the run-up to the general election. After bouncing McWilliams from the party's slate in June, more expensive advertising methods were abandoned, he added.
"There was no reason to get into spending money with a TV campaign," he said.
Final campaign funding reports must be filed with the state in about three weeks.
Chad Weihrauch can be reached at (908) 707-3137 or cweihrau@gannett.com
Link to online story.
(Note: Online stories may be taken down by their publisher after a period of time or made available for a fee. Links posted here is from the original online publication of this piece.)
(In accordance with Title 17 U.S.C. Section 107, this material is distributed without profit to those who have expressed a prior interest in receiving the included information for research and educational purposes. Plainfield Today, Plainfield Stuff and Clippings have no affiliation whatsoever with the originator of these articles nor are Plainfield Today, Plainfield Stuff or Clippings endorsed or sponsored by the originator.)
Elections - Ledger - Machine goes after McWilliams
Published in the Star-Ledger, Wednesday, April 13, 2005
[Tom Moran]
'Machine' goes after mayor of Plainfield
The city of Plainfield has more than its share of gang murders and drug deals, and more than enough poverty.
But things are improving. Crime is down overall, and new buildings are finally sprouting up next to boarded-up storefronts in the downtown. Homes that have been vacant for years are being renovated as the city's population grows.
"People are working together like never before," says Donna Albanese, president of the local chamber of commerce. "The mayor deserves the credit for that."
The mayor is Al McWilliams, a soft-spoken attorney who has won two elections by landslides. People in Plainfield like him.
But the party bosses don't.
They have declared war on him by denying him their endorsement, and backing a rival for the June primary.
And that could spell trouble for McWilliams.
Because in New Jersey politics, it is not enough to be competent and popular. To be secure in your job, you also need the blessings of the county bosses.
They are the gatekeepers who can make or break your political career, no matter how many landslides you've won.
They decide who gets the money, who gets the best position on the ballot, and who gets help on Election Day turning out the vote. In a primary, when turnout is low, the bosses almost always get their way.
The bosses in Union County -- led by Sen. Ray Lesniak and county chairwoman Charlotte DeFilippo -- are moving against McWilliams because he's been fighting for years with Assemblyman Gerald Green.
And Green is one of the old boys.
"If you can't work with people on the line, then you can't stay on the line," says DeFilippo.
What exactly was McWilliams' offense? What did he do wrong?
"He's trying to destroy my career by blaming me for every problem in the city," says Green. "He has to take responsibility. He's the mayor."
McWilliams says the trouble began when he fired a political ally of Green's who was doing shoddy legal work for the city.
"He called Jerry, and Jerry went ballistic on me," says McWilliams. "Our fights are usually over who gets what contract, and who gets what legal business. I don't care as long as the price is right and the quality is good. But you can't give away the store to be cooperative."
The party leaders could have left this one alone by endorsing both of them, despite their rivalry, and letting them battle it out in Plainfield. It would be awkward to put two rivals on the same team, but it could be done.
Instead, they decided to go after McWilliams with a head shot.
And so a man who has been mayor for eight years will now have to fight for his political life against his own party establishment.
"It boggles the mind," says McWilliams.
He drove through the city this week, pointing to improvements. A small park with benches and a fountain where weeds once grew. New sidewalks and street lamps near a train station. An office building in the downtown on what was a vacant lot.
Williams is promising to deal the machine a well-deserved blow.
He started out as a volunteer trying to revive the city's downtown, and ran for office only after he couldn't get the city council interested. Since then he's beaten the machine twice by supporting challengers for the city council and for the local Democratic committee.
And some people in Plainfield don't like the idea of bosses from the suburbs telling them whom they should support.
"I think this is dirty pool," says Valerie Cummings, eating a sandwich at the Plainfield Donut Shop and Luncheonette. "The mayor is trying. And he's a good man."
Tom Moran's column appears Wednesdays and Fridays. He can be reached at tmoran@starledger.com or (973) 392-1823.
There is no link to this story.
(In accordance with Title 17 U.S.C. Section 107, this material is distributed without profit to those who have expressed a prior interest in receiving the included information for research and educational purposes. Plainfield Today, Plainfield Stuff and Clippings have no affiliation whatsoever with the originator of these articles nor are Plainfield Today, Plainfield Stuff or Clippings endorsed or sponsored by the originator.)
[Tom Moran]
'Machine' goes after mayor of Plainfield
The city of Plainfield has more than its share of gang murders and drug deals, and more than enough poverty.
But things are improving. Crime is down overall, and new buildings are finally sprouting up next to boarded-up storefronts in the downtown. Homes that have been vacant for years are being renovated as the city's population grows.
"People are working together like never before," says Donna Albanese, president of the local chamber of commerce. "The mayor deserves the credit for that."
The mayor is Al McWilliams, a soft-spoken attorney who has won two elections by landslides. People in Plainfield like him.
But the party bosses don't.
They have declared war on him by denying him their endorsement, and backing a rival for the June primary.
And that could spell trouble for McWilliams.
Because in New Jersey politics, it is not enough to be competent and popular. To be secure in your job, you also need the blessings of the county bosses.
They are the gatekeepers who can make or break your political career, no matter how many landslides you've won.
They decide who gets the money, who gets the best position on the ballot, and who gets help on Election Day turning out the vote. In a primary, when turnout is low, the bosses almost always get their way.
The bosses in Union County -- led by Sen. Ray Lesniak and county chairwoman Charlotte DeFilippo -- are moving against McWilliams because he's been fighting for years with Assemblyman Gerald Green.
And Green is one of the old boys.
"If you can't work with people on the line, then you can't stay on the line," says DeFilippo.
What exactly was McWilliams' offense? What did he do wrong?
"He's trying to destroy my career by blaming me for every problem in the city," says Green. "He has to take responsibility. He's the mayor."
McWilliams says the trouble began when he fired a political ally of Green's who was doing shoddy legal work for the city.
"He called Jerry, and Jerry went ballistic on me," says McWilliams. "Our fights are usually over who gets what contract, and who gets what legal business. I don't care as long as the price is right and the quality is good. But you can't give away the store to be cooperative."
The party leaders could have left this one alone by endorsing both of them, despite their rivalry, and letting them battle it out in Plainfield. It would be awkward to put two rivals on the same team, but it could be done.
Instead, they decided to go after McWilliams with a head shot.
And so a man who has been mayor for eight years will now have to fight for his political life against his own party establishment.
"It boggles the mind," says McWilliams.
He drove through the city this week, pointing to improvements. A small park with benches and a fountain where weeds once grew. New sidewalks and street lamps near a train station. An office building in the downtown on what was a vacant lot.
Williams is promising to deal the machine a well-deserved blow.
He started out as a volunteer trying to revive the city's downtown, and ran for office only after he couldn't get the city council interested. Since then he's beaten the machine twice by supporting challengers for the city council and for the local Democratic committee.
And some people in Plainfield don't like the idea of bosses from the suburbs telling them whom they should support.
"I think this is dirty pool," says Valerie Cummings, eating a sandwich at the Plainfield Donut Shop and Luncheonette. "The mayor is trying. And he's a good man."
Tom Moran's column appears Wednesdays and Fridays. He can be reached at tmoran@starledger.com or (973) 392-1823.
There is no link to this story.
(In accordance with Title 17 U.S.C. Section 107, this material is distributed without profit to those who have expressed a prior interest in receiving the included information for research and educational purposes. Plainfield Today, Plainfield Stuff and Clippings have no affiliation whatsoever with the originator of these articles nor are Plainfield Today, Plainfield Stuff or Clippings endorsed or sponsored by the originator.)
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