A very pathetic weekend. I watched two football games, a
college one on Saturday and the Jets on Sunday. Both teams that I was
interested played like newcomers to Pop Warner football. On the plus side both
Dawg and I were able to get in good nap time during those games.
The weather over this weekend did not help; too soon for
winter temperatures and the cold wet rain. At least we missed the snow that
much of the East received. However the weather will not be an excuse not to
vote Tuesday.
This does seem to be the year for
surreptitious
elections in New Jersey. The NYC area TV stations are bombarding us with ads
for candidates in New York and Connecticut but there has been no indication of
an election for the Senate in New Jersey. Yet these two candidates are probably
the few that present clear differences in their positions.
Unless there is a last minute flurry there has been no
indication by either side that there is an important election involving the 3rd
Ward in Plainfield. This election could have an impact on the political future
of the dominant party. My belief is that a change will make a better Council. Everyone
should vote. It can make a difference.
The other important contested election for the Board of Education is supposed to
be nonpartisan; however there are two slates each one represents a political
faction. One has been openly supported by the leadership of the local Democrat
party, the other by the entrenched group sponsored by Campbell a supposed
Republican political rival.
The facts that political groups find reason to run slates
for the Board of Education is why I am opposed to the “Elected Board”. There is
suspicion that there may be an interest not in education but in material gain
by having control of the Board.
The fallout from having “slates” is that individuals who
have a true interest in improving the quality of the system are unable to
compete in an open election.
That is reason enough not to vote any slate. The best advice
is to pick the three that you feel are the best not because of their
affiliation. Do not ignore from your consideration that there is an Independent candidate running
Unfortunately the State only permits one alternative to the
elected Board and that is the appointed one by the Mayor. With Plainfield’s
history of appointments especially in the past decade that too is not a
desirable situation.
My solution would be a mixed Board half appointed and half
elected. That could take some of the political/patronage elements off the
table. But that will never be.
