CityCommittee reorg tonight. Obama rules, or Jerry's?

President Barack Obama	Assemblyman Jerry Green

Plainfield's Democratic City Committee reorganizes tonight, and there is already a tussle over whether the rules of play will be those of President Barack Obama or of Assemblyman Jerry Green.

At issue are procedural matters that can determine whether the committee will be truly small-d democratic, or whether it will be run by one person to suit that person. And those are --

• voting by secret ballot,
• having multiple nominations for offices; and
• voting for officers one by one and not by slate.

Assemblyman Jerry Green who as chair of the City Committee faces re-election tonight has already let it be known that he will do whatever he can to prevent committee members' voting by secret ballot.

Will this turn off the Obama supporters who have looked forward to being active in the city committee? One would expect so, since a bullying my-way-or-the-highway attitude is hardly what we have learned from America's first African American president.

The New Democrats, with 28 seats on the 68-member committee, are holding out for Obama-style openness and sharing of committee leadership and responsibilities, arguing that Democrats across the city have tried to send a message to the established leadership that same-old same-old just won't cut it any more.

It is the same sort of message that the Democratic party is facing around the state: new and younger voters view the Democratic party as in need of new blood, fresh vision and a commitment to openness, transparency and reform in party and public matters.

In our area, this is percolating up through the ranks very noticeably everywhere from Plainfield to Elizabeth, from Hillside to Roselle, from Edison to New Brunswick -- and state Democratic leadership is aware they have a problem.

It can also be seen in the abysmal poll numbers for Jon Corzine, a sitting Democratic governor in a largely Democratic state whose re-election is his to lose.

Which style will better mobilize and reassure Democrats as they gird their loins for the fall campaign season? The old style of bullying and one-man rule or the Obama style of openness, with everyone invited to the table and to share leadership and responsibility?

You tell me.

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Visitors are welcome at the

Plainfield Democratic City Committee
Reorganization Meeting

Tonight, 7:00 PM
YWCA
232 East Front Street
(corner of Church Street)

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-- Dan Damon

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