Was Councilor Storch staking out 2019 terrain Monday night?

Councilor Storch, who was Council President in 2016,
must decide whether to run again in 2019.

There has been speculation that disaffected Democrats in the Second Ward used Ron Johnson's campaign against Elton Armady for the citywide at-large seat as a trial balloon for the candidacy of Sean McKenna in next year's Second Ward primary race (see my previous post discussing this possibility here).

So far, Councilor Storch has kept his cards very close to his vest and has not addressed speculation about whether he will run -- one way or the other.

However, given that background, it is interesting to speculate on the stands he took at Monday night's (busy) Council meeting.

As Council President McRae has done with the combined sessions this year, he moved blocks of resolutions for each department, asking council members if they had questions or comments and, once those were out of the way, asking for a motion to pass the block of resolutions on one vote. This is a convenient procedure, sort of a hybrid of the regular one-by-one routine and a consent resolution.

Here's what Storch did Monday night that was interesting to watch.

As with most meetings, about 99% of items are unremarkable and there is hardly a whisper of discussion.

However, Storch voted "no" on two of them and made a public statement on another matter that stakes out a position pre-empting any potential challenger(s).

With regard to ordinance MC 2018-24, which altered a recommendation by the Planning Board to ban certain types of signage, Storch voted "no" on the ordinance's second reading and final passage.

His lone "no" vote did not deter the ordinance from being passed, but Storch's move cut off the possibility of McKenna -- who is a member of the Planning Board, and spoke against any changes to the original ordinance proposal -- using a Storch "yes" vote against him in a possible primary race.

Storch's second "no" vote was on the introduction of ordinance M2018-28, adopting a non-condemnation redevelopment plan for what is being called "South Avenue East" -- from the Fine Fare building to Terrill Road and properties on the south side of South Avenue, plus a residential property on Terrill Road but omitting the 7-Eleven on the corner.

The perimeters of the area aroused considerable discussion, not least of which is why the 7-Eleven was left out, why the residential property was included, and the fate of two popular restaurants -- Giovanna's and Freppe's.

Storch's "no" vote here also headed off any advantage that McKenna might have got on this plan, which is not universally adored by Second Ward residents.

The third action by Storch was in the matter of deer management.

About ten people spoke out during the public hearing. They ranged from familiar animal activists who urged against continued hunts to several residents who noted the ravages of deer upon their gardens. Some felt that hunting was, regrettably, necessary. One person urged the adoption of a contraceptive (administered by darts) that has yet to be approved for use in New Jersey.

After all was said and done, Storch asked to make a comment and then, acknowledging the complexity of the situation and the public health issues brought up, announced that he would support another deer hunt.

(He did not speak to the issue of bow hunting, which many consider inhumane, but which is the manner Union County has allowed. Because of the proximity to residential areas, the Cushing Road Retention Basin would be a dangerous place to allow guns to be used. Storch was the only person in the entire hearing to bring up the fact that the deer have no natural predators -- a line of thinking that could be pursued further.)

Was this a calculation that there are more aggrieved property owners than deer-lovers? I don't know, but the effect is to rob McKenna of yet another issue in any possible primary race.

2019 is certainly going to be an interesting year in Plainfield politics. But then, when has it ever not been?

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 -- Dan Damon [ follow ]

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