Board of Ed race shows Dem disarray

Sleeping with the enemy? Mr. Plainfield Republican John
Campbell hosted a cookout for BOE candidates last weekend.
(l to r) BOE member Cameron Cox, John Stewart (Mayor
Mapp's former Chief of Staff), Fanwood Mayor Colleen
Mahr, Richard Wyatt, John Campbell, Emily Morgan
and Terence Johnson. (Rear) Unknown man and woman,
BOE candidate Eric Andrews and Sean McKenna.

The 2018 Board of Education race shows the continued disarray in Plainfield Democratic ranks.

The candidate field includes nine running for three three-year seats, and two running for a one-year term to fill an unexpired term.

The field has evidently shaken down into two slates of four and three candidates running as independents.

Here's the breakout --

• The #getmadforkids slate is composed of Melba Mullins, David Graves (a former BOE member), Alma Blanco, and Dorien Hurtt. The group evidently has the blessing of Plainfield Democratic chair Adrian O. Mapp as they had a "Meet & Greet" at Dem headquarters on August 29.
  
  
  
• The other "slate" consists of current Board members Richard Wyatt (who is President), Emily Morgan (past President) and  John Campbell. Eric Andrews is the candidate for the one-year seat. Morgan and Wyatt are Democrats; in fact, Morgan was backed by Mapp for Board President two years ago. Campbell, of course, is Mr. Plainfield Republican. Strange bedfellows!
  
  
  
• That leaves the three who are running as independents: Rebecca Perkins, Timothy Priano and Harry Waters, Jr. Perkins served on the Warren Twp. BOE (before she moved to Plainfield). Priano is well-known for his enthusiasm for cleaning up Plainfield's public spaces. This is the second go for Watson, who failed to win a seat last year.

The #getmadforkids slate is hosting a fundraiser Thursday (September 13) from 7:00 to 10:00 PM at the El Imperial in Bound Brook (200 Talmadge Avenue). Prices are $125 for general admission, and $50 for "friends of education". Please RSVP to Derel Stroud at getmad4kids@gmail.com. Checks payable to: Get Mad for Plainfield.

Plainfield Democrats have been in increasing disarray since the election of Nick Scutari as Union County Dem Chair this past spring.

Chairman Mapp evidently considered no consultation with the Executive Committee was needed and that 100% of the Plainfield Dem Committee vote would be delivered for Scutari. In the event, nearly a third of the Plainfield Dem Committee backed Fanwood Mayor Colleen Mahr, who lost to Scutari 341 to 412.

Sadly, the breach in party unity has not been healed, with some now in near-open revolt.

Where things will go is anyone's guess.

The Board of Ed is now elected at the November general election, which this year will be Tuesday, November 6.

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 -- Dan Damon [ follow ]

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