Plainfield 2010 Primary Election Results (Council)
District-by-district results for City Council seats.
Wards 2/3 at-large was a contested race between three Democrats --
- Rashid Burney (Regular Democratic Organization [Incumbent])
- Don Davis (Hold On To Plainfield)
- Rebecca Williams (New Democrats for Plainfield)
Republican Jim Pivnichny ran unopposed.
In Ward 1, Democrat Bill Reid and Republican Sean Alfred were unopposed.
WARD/DIST
| BURNEY
| DAVIS
| WILLIAMS
| PIVNICHNY
|
WARD 2
|
|
|
|
|
District 01
| 22
| 3
| 22
| 0
|
| District 02 | 14
| 5
| 56
| 5
|
| District 03 | 20
| 10
| 47
| 5
|
| District 04 | 24
| 4
| 24
| 2
|
| District 05 | 13
| 1
| 66
| 9
|
| District 06 | 38
| 2
| 77
| 23
|
| District 07 | 35
| 7
| 26
| 2
|
| District 08 | 30
| 4
| 40
| 12
|
| District 09 | 18
| 3
| 59
| 17
|
| District 10 | 30
| 3
| 49
| 12
|
District 11
| 33
| 11
| 26
| 8
|
TOTAL - WARD 2
| 277
| 53
| 492
| 95
|
|
|
|
|
|
WARD 3
|
|
|
|
|
| District 01 | 15
| 3
| 25
| 7
|
| District 02 | 13
| 14
| 28
| 2
|
| District 03 | 20
| 19
| 40
| 5
|
| District 04 | 22
| 23
| 40
| 2
|
| District 05 | 42
| 18
| 35
| 3
|
| District 06 | 35
| 15
| 41
| 6
|
| District 07 | 26
| 9
| 38
| 2
|
| District 08 | 25
| 6
| 20
| 2
|
| District 09 | 49
| 18
| 35
| 1
|
| District 10 | 24
| 19
| 10
| 2
|
TOTAL - WARD 3
| 271
| 144
| 312
| 32
|
TOTAL - WARDS 2/3
| 548
| 197
| 804
| 127
|
|
|
|
|
|
WARD 1
| REID
|
|
| ALFRED
|
| District 01 | 49
|
|
| 1
|
| District 02 | 25
|
|
| 1
|
| District 03 | 37
|
|
| 2
|
| District 04 | 20
|
|
| 6
|
| District 05 | 22
|
|
| 2
|
| District 06 | 24
|
|
| 0
|
| District 07 | 35
|
|
| 1
|
| District 08 | 34
|
|
| 0
|
TOTAL - WARD 1
| 246
|
|
| 13
|
Total voter turnout was 2,286 citywide.
In Wards 2/3, 1,549 Democratic votes were cast. With a total of 7,384 registered Democrats,
this is a turnout of 21%.
(As for unaffiliated voters declaring themselves at the polling place, my experience in one of the busier districts at Evergreen School was ONE person declaring Democratic voter affiliation on Primary day.)
Westfield Leader, 8/22/2008
Lance and Stender to
Debate September 16 in Scotch Plains
SCOTCH PLAINS – Two candidates vying for Congressional representation in the 7th District, Republican State Senator Leonard Lance (LD-23, Clinton) and Democratic Assemblywoman Linda Stender (LD-22, Fanwood) will debate for the first time at 7:15 p.m. on Tuesday, September 16.
The Jewish Community Relations Council of the Jewish Federation of Central New Jersey will host the debate at their offices, located at 1391 Martine Avenue in Scotch Plains.
The event will offer voters insight into critical issues, including key domestic and foreign policy questions. The race, to fill the seat vacated by retiring Republican Mike Ferguson, is likely to be one of the most closely watched in the country.
Organizations co-sponsoring this event include: American Jewish Committee, Anti-Defamation League New Jersey, Community Relations Committee of United Jewish Communities of MetroWest NJ, JCC of Central New Jersey, Jewish Community Relations Council of Jewish Federation of Greater Middlesex County, National Jewish Democratic Council, New Jersey State Association of Jewish Federations, Republican Jewish Coalition, Westfield Chapter of Hadassah, and The Workmen’s Circle/Arbeiter Ring.
Published in the New York Times, Sunday, December 09, 2007
On Politics
Bipartisan Bill Seeks to Open County Primaries
By DAVID W. CHEN
TRENTON
CONVENTIONAL wisdom says that most elections in New Jersey are decided in the primary, because most districts are drawn so that the dominant party doesn’t have to break a financial sweat in the general election. But in practice, the primary is often a fait accompli, too, because the real drama occurs at the county political conventions, thanks to the influence of county political bosses.
So imagine what chaos and suspense might unfold if a proposal offered by two of the most prominent women in the State Legislature becomes a reality.
State Senators Loretta Weinberg, a Democrat from Bergen County, and Diane B. Allen, a Republican from Burlington County, introduced a bill last week that would open up the process by which county parties operate. Senator Allen has complained that the process is rife with back-room deals and is dominated by men.
Under the bill, the parties would be required to adopt constitutions and bylaws; use voting machines when committee members fill vacancies in the Legislature; and keep an updated list of committee members on file with the county clerk.
The bill, called the Party Democracy Act, has a bipartisan group of sponsors in the Assembly, too: Linda R. Greenstein, a Democrat who represents Mercer and Middlesex Counties; Amy H. Handlin, a Republican from Monmouth County; and Ms. Weinberg’s two running mates in Bergen County, Valerie Vainieri Huttle and Gordon M. Johnson.
Guiding the legislators from the outside is Harry S. Pozycki, chairman of the Citizens’ Campaign, a nonpartisan group devoted to government reform.
At its heart, Mr. Pozycki said, the bill is intended to muzzle county political chairmen, who have long been perceived to wield an inordinate amount of power in picking candidates for local, county and statewide offices. Securing the blessing of the county boss has long been crucial to victory in any race, because of the way loyal blocs of voters in low-turnout elections follow the cues of their party leaders.
“We move from tyranny to democracy,” said Mr. Pozycki, a former chairman of the Middlesex County Democratic Party. “We have the rule of law, instead of the clubhouse rule.”
But this being New Jersey, you can bet there is personal animus underpinning the bill as well.
In Bergen County, Senator Weinberg has been engaged in an increasingly bitter battle with Joseph A. Ferriero, the Democratic Party chairman. To get into the whys and whats of their feud would require a master’s thesis worth of paperwork. But some of the bad blood dates back two years, when Senator Weinberg, then an assemblywoman, went to court in a battle over disputed ballots to edge a candidate preferred by Mr. Ferriero to fill a Senate vacancy.
Senator Allen has most recently been engaged in a standoff with Glenn Paulsen, a former Burlington County Republican chairman who still wields a lot of influence. She had wanted the county party’s help in a primary to fill the seat of retiring Representative Jim Saxton, but she quit when she became frustrated with the process.
“We need to get rid of the county bosses,” Senator Allen said. “Back-room deals have been made in New Jersey for years, and only now, when we seem to have a lot more women in the Legislature, are we starting to gain momentum in saying, ‘You can’t do that anymore.’”
Asked about Senator Allen’s remarks, Bill Layton, the new Burlington County Republican chairman, who is not exactly an Allen supporter, declined to comment. But he said that her bill was, in general, a good one.
“I think anytime the Legislature or anyone wants to make the political process for political parties more open and transparent, I think that’s a great thing,” Mr. Layton said. “I think it’s a great piece of legislation.”
But he said he did not like the requirement for voting machines because “to close that process off would be like asking the senators and assemblymen who come up to Trenton every day to go in a back room and vote on bills, so no one really knows how they stood on the issues.”
The fate of the bill is unclear. Gov. Jon S. Corzine said that while he had not looked at the bill, “I’ve tended to support most of the things that Senator Weinberg has been on the side of.”
Legislative leaders have offered lukewarm opinions. And both Tom Wilson, the state Republican Party chairman, and Assemblyman Joseph Cryan, his Democratic counterpart, expressed concern about the constitutionality of such a bill, noting that the United States Supreme Court has ruled that government cannot regulate private political organizations.
So leave it to Charlotte DeFillippo, the Union County Democratic chairwoman, to weigh in, too — on the side of the existing system.
“While Senator Weinberg is certainly prolific as a bill writer, I think that the legislation is gratuitous,” said Ms. DeFillippo, the only woman leading a county party in New Jersey. “Individual political problems should not forge general public policy. I also believe this is constitutional. So I agree with both state chairmen, and that’s a rarity.”
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.)
Published in the Star-Ledger, Wednesday, December 05, 2007
Bill targets power of county bosses
Legislation sets internal rules for parties,
which chairmen say is unconstitutional
BY JOE DONOHUE
Star-Ledger Staff
Several legislators launched a bipartisan drive yesterday to end one of New Jersey's oldest traditions -- the power of county political bosses.
But two state party chairmen said doing so would violate the state constitution.
Led by two women senators who have both recently tangled with their respective county leaders, the legislative contingent wants to curb the influence of county bosses by adopting minimum standards for how county parties operate.
"All it does is make sure our parties run officially in an open manner," said Sen. Loretta Weinberg (D-Bergen), who has had several high-profile clashes with Bergen County Democratic Chairman Joseph Ferriero.
Under the Party Democracy Act, all county parties would have to adopt party constitutions and bylaws, use voting machines for filling committee vacancies and abide by other rules of operation that would make it harder to manipulate the nominating process. Weinberg and others said some leaders exploit the weakness of their parties to create their own fiefdoms and tend to exclude minorities and women.
"We need to get rid of the county bosses. We need to give power back to the people and do things in a democratic way," said Sen. Diane Allen (R-Burlington), another bill supporter. When Allen recently decided not to run for Congress, she said her decision was influenced in part by a falling out with longtime friend Glenn Paulsen, former Burlington County GOP chairman and still a major force in local politics.
Tom Wilson, chairman of the Republican State Committee, said while there may be good ideas in the legislation, it would be as unconstitutional as telling Chambers of Commerce or the Little League how to run their private affairs.
"The Supreme Court already has made it clear that government cannot intervene in the workings of private organizations," he said. "For purposes of the constitution, political parties are considered private organizations."
Democratic State Chairman Joe Cryan agreed there are constitutional questions about such a proposal. "If the goals are to increase representation of women and minorities and to give grassroots party activists a voice, we are already succeeding," Cryan said.
Harry Pozycki, chairman of the Citizens' Campaign, a nonpartisan group promoting citizen involvement in government, said the bill was drafted with an eye toward respecting the constitution. Lawmakers cannot micromanage parties but can set broad operating guidelines, he said.
"Party constitutions and voting machines are critical to ensure that county party committee people know the rules of the game and are able to vote their conscience, free from the threat or perception of intimidation from party leaders who in many cases control their livelihood," he said.
Ferriero could not be reached for comment. Paulsen, Burlington County chairman from 1990 to 2004, said no Republican county party in the state nominated more women and minorities during that period.
Brigid Harrison, political science professor at Montclair State University, said the influence of bosses, a New Jersey tradition that dates back at least a century, is too strong to eliminate overnight.
"You have to chip away at their base of power and how they go about conducting their business. This is one step in that direction," she said. "Party chairs need to be responsive to a set of rules that may not necessarily be of their making."
Joe Donohue may be reached at jdonohue@starledger.com or (609) 989-0208.
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.)
Published in the Star-Ledger, Saturday, June 30, 2007
Primary candidates spent record $25 million in state
BY JOE DONOHUE AND JOSH MARGOLIN
Star-Ledger Staff
Fueled by a nasty brawl among Hudson County Democrats and the scramble for a slew of open seats, primary election spending by candidates for the state Legislature soared to a record $25 million this spring, campaign finance reports revealed yesterday.
"This is the largest increase that we've ever had in terms of primary spending, and it is by far the most expensive primary," said Frederick Herrmann, executive director of the Election Law Enforcement Commission.
Democrats in the 33rd Legislative District alone spent nearly $2 million, a large sum even for a general election campaign. The biggest individual spender statewide was also in that district -- Assemblyman Brian Stack (D-Hudson), who sank nearly $1.3 million into a campaign that crushed Assemblyman Silverio "Sal" Vega (D-Hudson) for his party's state Senate nomination.
Stack received a last-minute $73,000 infusion from organizations tied to Camden County Democrats, stirring speculation that South Jersey Democratic boss George Norcross already is trying to line up allies for post-election skirmishes over the leadership of the next Legislature.
Facing no substantial opposition in the general election, Stack is expected to enter the state Senate as a key free agent in the upper chamber, unaligned with the traditional Hudson County Democratic leadership. Should Democrats keep their 22-18 majority, Stack would be a sought-after vote as party members jockey for key positions, including Senate President, majority leader, and budget committee chairman.
Asked about the influx of donations from South Jersey donors, Stack spokesman Joe Lauro said only: "He's thankful they supported him." He said no one has asked Stack about whom he might support for Senate President "and he won't address it until he gets there."
Senate President Richard Codey, who has led the Senate's Democrats for a decade, said he plans to keep his post and does not expect a challenge. As for Stack's South Jersey support, Codey said, "Brian isn't going to be bought by anybody. I'm fine with Brian Stack. Who he takes money from is his business."
Former Republican Sen. John Bennett, who was co-president of the Senate with Codey in 2002-2003, said it's obvious to him the South Jersey Democrats are trying to establish an alliance with Stack that could jeopardize Codey's hold on the caucus. "There's no question there has been and continues to be an ongoing dispute between Dick Codey and George Norcross," said Bennett, who turned down an alliance with Norcross five years ago that would have spelled the end to Codey's leadership in Trenton.
One Norcross ally who donated to Stack, Assemblyman Louis Greenwald (D-Camden), said there was no ulterior motive to the $8,200 he gave. "Brian had asked for some support and I'd known him for a while," said Greenwald, who credited Stack with helping establish ties between the formerly feuding Democrats of North and South Jersey. "He really helped tie the state together. My thought process was we needed to continue to build those relationships."
Norcross declined to comment yesterday.
Brigid Harrison, a Montclair State University political science professor, said she believes Norcross is more likely to use his clout to secure the budget chairmanship or majority leader post, as opposed to challenging Codey for the presidency. "This is certainly a good alliance for him. But I don't think he wants to go head-to-head with Codey," she said
Spending by legislative candidates in this month's primary topped $1 million in five districts. Overall, winners outspent losers by a ten-to-one margin -- $23.2 million versus $2.2 million.
Herrmann said the total spending was 33 percent higher than four years ago, the last time all 120 seats were up for grabs. One factor was the fact that 17 lawmakers are retiring. "Open seats create more expensive races because they are more competitive," he said. He added that campaign expenses grow faster than the cost of living.
Heading into the fall campaigns, Democrats, who control both legislative houses, had twice the cash reserves of Republicans: $5.1 million versus $2.3 million. The challenger with the most cash was Bergen County attorney Joseph Ariyan, a Democrat who is running against Sen. Gerald Cardinale (R-Bergen) and reported $124,832 in the bank. First elected to the Senate in 1981, Cardinale reported a $242,639 reserve.
Ariyan is closely aligned with Bergen County Democratic Chairman Joseph Ferriero and reported this week that he has now raised more than $200,000. "I continue to receive a genuine outpouring of support from people throughout the district," he said.
Cardinale said he's ready. "I never get a free ride. I have never taken an election for granted," he said."
Link to online 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.)
