The LWV’s Candidates Forum Wednesday night was a well-attended
event. I can only report impressions not
facts.
Unfortunately the 4th Ward candidates
section was cancelled due to one of the candidate’s illness. However incumbent
Rivers was permitted to make a brief statement.
The first hour was devoted to the 6 candidates seeking
election to the Board of Education. Although this is supposed to be a
non-partisan election there are actually two political slates; one allegedly sponsored
by John Campbell and led by Board President Wilma Campbell; the other which has
had City Democrat Chairman Green’s benevolence.
The less said about that hour the better. The usual
first comment from most of the candidates was “please repeat the question”.
With the exception of Richard Lear of
the, as Wilma Campbell pointedly and frequently referred to as the “Green Team”,
either passed on general questions or
made only generic answers.
On the other hand Mr. Lear was most impressive.
Campbell continually defended the record of the
so-called Slam Team which had been elected on a platform of transparency which
has become opaque. Her running mates include incumbent Moore who has only been
on the board for a year as a replacement, and David Rutherford.
Both were more eloquent than their opposition and worldlier.
This forum did little to give me confidence in voting
next Tuesday. The Slam has done little to justify reelection and there has been
severe criticism from the state in the manner of choosing attorneys.
Moreover
the Board is responsible for policy and selecting administrators. There has
been little indication that there has been any improvement in the district
these past three years.
On the other hand I do not feel that two of the other
slate has the expertise or understanding of the role of the BOE to merit election.
Once again I would opt for an appointed Board.
The four candidates for the Mayor’s office were all
impressive. Without naming names; I would not be unhappy with three of them.
However I cannot escape the feeling after the past four years, that Mapp who has
experience and contacts is the best person for the position at the present
time.
His knowledge of the laws and regulations which he will
follow is important. We need an ASAP professional structuring of our
administration and Mapp will do that.
Sometime a career politician is the best choice.
Plainfield has no time for “learning on the job”.
October 31,2013.
ReplyDeleteI attended the LWV and was very impressed with Mr.Belin has more work experience than Mr.Mapp and Plainfield needs a mayor who understands business-party politics has gotten us in the predicament we are presently in. We can vote for more of the same or a true change agent in Mr.D.Scott Belin. How soon before Green and Mapp have a falling out at the expense of Plainfield? We have seen it before- let's not fall for it again. Mr. Mapp has touted his experience, yet he has been part of the problem over his
tenure on the council and has in many ways stifled the present mayor and not helped Plainfield. Mr.Mapp has called for a forensic audit-yet he did not do so for the UCIA building- where Plainfield was given a settlement on money owed. Why did we not get all the money owed to Plainfield. The other candidates once again have attempted to adopt Mr.Belin's platform-they are already following his leadership-we should elect him Mayor. It seemed very curious that many people who support Mr.Mapp's campaign were working the forum,curious-Veronica the timekeeper is one example and it seemed Mr.Belin's time was cut short at least twice. I'm just saying...
Anyone that was in that room last night can clearly see that Greens candidates are not qualified for school board members and this is exactly why Plainfield is in the sad shape we find ourselves today. Being an successful school board member requires more than energy and a desire. We cannot and should not have the blind leading the blind. I submitted a question on the education level of each candidate, however it wasn’t presented to the panel. Although not mandatory, it is an asset to the city and it’s children for board members to have the proper education needed to understand the technicalities of running a school board and setting policies that will advance our children. At least two of Jerry Greens candidates seem to be clueless and incapable of learning, reading and understanding the rigorous agendas and research that is required. I find it insulting to the voting public of Plainfield that Jerry Green would bring people like Deborah Clarke and Anabella Melgar to the table and just assume that we will vote for them because he says so. Nothing personal against either ladies, but neither one of them have a clue as to what they are running for. Their blatant lack of understanding, knowledge and communication skills alone leaves no doubt that they have nothing of substance to offer as school board candidates. SHAME, SHAME, SHAME ON YOU JERRY GREEN. This is another reason why Jerry Green does not deserve to be re-elected. Either Jerry thinks we are all fools or he truly believes that we will blindly follow him without question; wait a minute, isn’t that the same as being a fool?
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