Image by Stephanie Hough.
Plainfielders who turned out to vote yesterday (MOST DID NOT) gave Sharon Robinson-Briggs a second term by a wide margin.
Assemblyman Jerry Green and running mate Linda Stender, however, got the fright of their political lives.
They won, but with narrower margins than ever before seen -- Green escaped the executioner's axe by only 1,858 votes.
But Chris Christie's win over Jon Corzine may mean Sharon and Jerry's victories are Pyhrric.
Exit polls showed that PUBLIC CORRUPTION was one of the top three concerns of New Jersey voters, and Christie promised in his victory speech that he would continue to crack down on public corruption.
Plainfielders can only hope that will translate as: INCLUDING UNION COUNTY.
Not only would that bring attention to such as Sen. Ray Lesniak and UC Dem Chair Charlotte DeFilippo (whose investigation by Corzine's AG has languished for two years now), the spotlight is likely to fall on Plainfield, given the concerns over governance that have been expressed by the Division of Local Government Services -- concerns expressed, by the way, by a FRIENDLY administration.
On the other hand, both Green and Robinson-Briggs will find their every move -- or lack thereof -- continue to be closely scrutinized under the ever-watchful eye of the blogging community and its ever-expanding readership.
While some may be dismayed by yesterday's outcome, I view it as only a temporary bump in the road to more honest, more open and more responsive government in Plainfield.
Plainfielders of every political stripe owe a debt of thanks and gratitude to mayoral candidate Jim Pivnichny and Assembly candidates 'Bo' Vastine and Marty Marks, for showing us once again that democracy without viable political discourse and true options is not worth 'a bucket of warm ****', as FDR's vice president John Nance Garner once said in a different context (see here)¶.
It would be fateful if Jerry and Sharon fail to attend to the shifts that Christie's victory will bring.
The Courier was more prescient than it could have known when it titled its endorsement of Plainfield realpolitik "Robinson-Briggs has to do better second time around".
Everyone will be watching.
¶'Pantywaist' edit.
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14 comments:
Yet the blogging community watching every move has resulted in both Sharon and Jerry getting elected once again. It appears that the community of blog readers do not sway elections. Therefore, it really is not a pyrrhic victory. Nothing will change. The microscope you place on every move will only feed the copy for you to write about. All this time and effort and what? Hospital closed, streets in disrepair, shootings, and the list goes on - and they were voted back in. It seems the the blogging community needs to turn their attention to the residents who, no matter what the vote count, put these politicians back in office. Just pointing out errors by the politicians is not even half the story. And to go along with your fondness for quotes, the city of Plainfield will "reap what is sow."
The question is: What affect does a Republican Governor have on Plainfield? Remember I said earlier, one person cannot change a system.
Although I could not bring myself to vote for the Robinson-Briggs, I know I will be watching and attending city counsel meetings as will many people. I an others will make a loud noise about what does and does not happen.
Thanks to Mr. Pivnichny for his work at making this election a race. I was also glad to see that you record could lose you an election and your money doesn't mean you'll win.
The Courier will now be able to look at what is happening or not happening with the Connolly debacle and bring what our administration is not doing. I'm still waiting for a new roof, so the one in my apartment doesn't cave in on me.
God bless Plainfield. We need His blessings with the current administration and four more years of whatever.
I am disappointed but I must say .... The People have Spoken.
I will post a message that translates to losing with grace. I hope she -- MAYOR Robinson-Briggs has learned a lesson from this campaign. I hope that she learns to run an open and honest government that welcomes transparency and public input. I hope she learns that you cannot govern when you sole purpose is pleasing your Master and not the public. I hope she learns that this city does have potential but will only become what you put into it. This could be a new day for the Mayor. COULD BE. The choice is entirely up to her and whether she can continue to look at herself in the mirror every morning. Jerry is ignorant and will not change. I only hope with the former federal prosecutor Chris Christie as our new Governor-Elect he will put people in the State Attorney General Office who look for corruption much like he did when he was in office. This could be our saving grace to see a Governor going after the very corruption and filth that keeps people like Jerry Green in power. AND THAT WAS THE CORRECT WORD: POWER. The smaller the man the more they crave POWER.
As was quoted by a previous mayor, to see the same at city hall does not always make for a good mayor. The voters voted in the same manner or they could care less for the community they live in. They dont mind the lack of quality development, the pot holes all over, repaving by the train tracks when there are roads in farr worse condition...I can go on and on, but alas...the voters, the few that actually showed up, have spoken. Plainfield will always be Plainfield, status quo. Sign me a disgruntled hopester. At least we got a new Governor.
No surprises yesterday but what kind of nonsense is 7:18 dishing out? The blog readers are outnumbered by the blind faithful, period. If Jesus Christ had been the opposition candidate yesterday he too would have lost against Briggs and Green.
I don't think there is one Plainfield resident surprised at Tuesday's outcome...that doesn't mean we have to like it. It's time of move...after all what's left?
To Anonymous: the saying is "reap what is sown", referring to what is planted. Yes we will reap what is sown if we ignore this mayor and don't keep her feet to the fire. We need to make sure the state audits Plainfield's books and our City Council keeps demanding a pro-active administration and votes down anything not in the citizens' good.
You mean the Machine has spoken....
Keep it real...the answer to your question is "A LOT." Christie will have the opportunity to change much of the bureaucratic bloat that runs this state with much more prudent, fiscally responsible administrators that will be felt all the way down at the local level Not to mention oversight of cities and municipalities that could potentially end the hanky, panky local stuff we have all come to accept as they way business is done. A new broom sweeps clean.
Don't be discouraged Plainfielders. It will be much better when the headlines read, "Mayor and Assemblyman arrested for corruption" instead of former mayor and former assemblyman. The higher up you are the farther you fall. Don't let up. Use OPRA to request information, attend meetings, write letters. They have only done what we have permitted them to do. If we do our part, they will no longer get away with this nonsense.
Why don't we get out of the blogosphere and form a citizens' group? Let's really hold the Mayor's and Assemblyman's feet to the fire. And, as 7:18 said, let's reach out to all Plainfielders and show them/convince them how this administration has failed us all. What's the downside?
@1104, I will look for all the changes you predict in the coming monthss
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