The Plainfield Democratic City Committee's reorganization Monday night held no surprises.
Both Old and New Old Democrats caucused before the meeting.
Both Old and New Democrats had slates to offer.
Meeting beforehand with New Dem leaders Adrian Mapp, Rick Smiley and Rebecca Williams, Assemblyman Jerry Green (D-Plainfield) made an offer of two vice chairmanships -- to Williams and Mapp -- then subverted the offer by adding a condition when presenting it to the committee that both Mapp and Williams said had not been part of the original offer.
Assemblyman Green delegated the running of the meeting to Dottie Gutenkauf, then interrupted her at several points to offer his opinion on what should be done, explain his position, and restate business before the committee.
After presenting his origina slate, at one point Assemblyman Green then restated his slate, dropping Mapp altogether and moving Williams down one slot. Subsequently, he replaced that slate with another not containing either New Dem's name.
Though several copies of Robert's Rules of Order were spotted around the room, they were mostly honored in the breach.
With 40 seats on the Old Dem side and 28 for the New Dems (one person was away on business, so only 27 were present), the outcome of all votes was hardly in question.
When the committee divided into Ward groups to choose Ward captains, the New Dems took the lead with Wards 2 and 3, while the Old Dems took 1 and 4.
Referring to the 4th Ward race, Assemblyman Green said 'a lawyer' was looking into the provisional ballots 'in the interest of both candidates'. Bridget Rivers holds a six vote lead as of Monday evening in the contested race.
If I were to characterize the evening, I would say neither Obama's rules nor Jerry's prevailed.
Instead, it seemed more like Rogers' rules.
That would be Will Rogers, the 20th century humorist and movie star, who once quipped, "I belong to no organized political party. I am a Democrat."
That would be us.
After the meeting was adjourned, old friends and acquaintances who found themselves on opposite sides of the Old Dem/New Dem divide chatted and caught up with each other.
Just like family.
-- Dan Damon
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5 comments:
Dan,
How did Gutenkauf get to run the meeting? According to bylaws the secretary has that job until chairman is elected. Wen was that voted on. In addition, no notes seemed to be recorded by the secretary who was reelected. What's up with that?
Article I of the Plainfield Democratic City Committee's Constitution says its membership shall be constitued by those elected to the county committee from Plainfield's election districts.
Are the city committee's officers a subset of the committee? Can Jerry Green, who is not an elected committeeman, legally be its chairperson?
I'd be interested in how this should be properly interpreted.
No one can get under you skin like family....
Alan --
The question of non-members being elected officers has come up before. The Democrats bylaws allow it; I understand the Republicans do not.
It has been years since Jerry Green was elected from his own neighborhood. In 2001, a former resident named Peter Janis ran a stealth write-in campaign and knocked him out. But he was elected chair of the committee amid big discussion about whether it was allowed.
It is allowed, and when Al McWilliams was elected chair in 2003 (he was the district rep -- same district as Jerry, 2-6), I was elected 2nd vice chair. I was not an elected member of the committee.
Jerry said so. No explanation as to why.
But then he interrupted her several times, so maybe you can't even say Dottie 'ran' the meeting.
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