Union County Dem Chair DeFilippo Under Investigation

Plainfielders have been wondering if anyone would ever take a look at the web of connections that Charlotte DeFilippo, chair of the Democratic county organization, executive director of the Union County Improvement Authority, and general political factotum sits in the middle of.

The answer is yes, finally.

The Ledger breaks a story today (see here) of a burgeoning state investigation into the public and private dealings of the Queen of King Street.

You have to hope this will be a thorough-going investigation, but so far, State investigations haven't seemed to rise to the level of thoroughness and disinterestedness that those of the US Attorney's office do. Cynics might be forgiven for suspecting a state move is an attempt to head off a federal probe.

Let's hope Milgram & Co. show us their stuff.

At the very least, we may get some answers to some of our outstanding questions related to the UCIA, including --

• Unfinished checkoff items from the Park-Madison project;
• Murkiness surrounding the Senior Center development project;
• How the UCIA came to be Plainfield's redevelopment agency;
• How Remington & Vernick came to be Plainfield's planning consultants;
• Why R&V had already prepared a redevelopment plan for the East 3rd/Richmond Streets area before a study had even been adopted.

That's for openers.

Seasoned observers will probably have their own items to add to the list, which might include DeFilippo's use of 'clubhouse rules' in Plainfield's 2005 primary to deny the sitting mayor -- Al McWilliams -- the privilege, as chair of the local Dem committee, of naming the local slate of candidates.

Of course, as the network of her private business dealings begins to be dragged into the light of day, Plainfielders will also want to keep an eye on how many of these private businesses -- and their principals -- have dealings with the City.

DeFilippo asks, "I just want to know who's going to say, 'Sorry Charlotte' when this is all over."

Until then, I'm recalling the old saying, "May your times be interesting."

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Ledger: "Probe focuses on Union politicos" -- Archived here.

-- Dan Damon

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