Ferraro Sees Win In Mayoral Contest
Former City Councilman Bob Ferraro, one of just two mayoral candidates on the Nov. 8 ballot, says his independent candidacy is the key to the city’s future.
Incumbent Mayor Albert T. McWilliams lost the June primary and also a bid to run as a Republican in the Nov. 8 general election.
Ferraro said of his challenger, Democrat Sharon Robinson-Briggs, “If she wins, Plainfield’s a goner.”
But if he wins, Ferraro said, “Plainfield has a chance.”
While expressing his love for Robinson-Briggs as a fellow NAACP colleague, Ferraro said concerning Plainfield, “She doesn’t have a clue.“
“Jerry Green would be the mayor,“ he said, referring to the Democratic Party chairman who is backing her.
In campaigns with various affiliations over the past 20 years, Ferraro has consistently stressed public safety as his main issue. He said he entered politics following the rape of an employee of his T-shirt company and an assault on his son.
Ferraro has conducted patrols of the city in his blue van for many years. Even though he served as the 2nd Ward councilman, he said he attempted to serve residents’ concerns in all four wards.
His belief is that police presence deters crime and he continues to advocate a plan for community patrols that include police in radio cars as well as on foot.
Ferraro denounced a new police deployment plan as “garbage.”
The city announced months ago that captains would be reassigned to wards instead of operational bureaus, such as Narcotics, Administrative, Criminal Investigation and others outlined on the Police Division’s web site. However, the plan has not yet been implemented.
Commenting on who should be in charge of public safety, Ferraro said he did not believe a civilian Public Safety director is necessary. He said a police chief and fire chief should suffice.
The issue of having a public safety director over fire and police has been debated over the years, but the city’s charter still calls for such a post.
Ferraro, originally a Republican, did not succeed in being elected until he was offered the Democratic Party line to run for the 2nd Ward in 1995, he said.
“If little green men came from Mars and offered me the party line, I would have become a Martian,“ Ferraro said.
His tenure ended in 2003.
Now, he says, his four main issues are high taxes that people on fixed incomes can no longer afford; crime reduction; getting the senior citizen building constructed; and helping youth.
Now 73 and retired, Ferraro said he will give full-time service to the part-time mayoral position.
“I believe Nov. 8 is my race,” he said.
--Bernice Paglia
Incumbent Mayor Albert T. McWilliams lost the June primary and also a bid to run as a Republican in the Nov. 8 general election.
Ferraro said of his challenger, Democrat Sharon Robinson-Briggs, “If she wins, Plainfield’s a goner.”
But if he wins, Ferraro said, “Plainfield has a chance.”
While expressing his love for Robinson-Briggs as a fellow NAACP colleague, Ferraro said concerning Plainfield, “She doesn’t have a clue.“
“Jerry Green would be the mayor,“ he said, referring to the Democratic Party chairman who is backing her.
In campaigns with various affiliations over the past 20 years, Ferraro has consistently stressed public safety as his main issue. He said he entered politics following the rape of an employee of his T-shirt company and an assault on his son.
Ferraro has conducted patrols of the city in his blue van for many years. Even though he served as the 2nd Ward councilman, he said he attempted to serve residents’ concerns in all four wards.
His belief is that police presence deters crime and he continues to advocate a plan for community patrols that include police in radio cars as well as on foot.
Ferraro denounced a new police deployment plan as “garbage.”
The city announced months ago that captains would be reassigned to wards instead of operational bureaus, such as Narcotics, Administrative, Criminal Investigation and others outlined on the Police Division’s web site. However, the plan has not yet been implemented.
Commenting on who should be in charge of public safety, Ferraro said he did not believe a civilian Public Safety director is necessary. He said a police chief and fire chief should suffice.
The issue of having a public safety director over fire and police has been debated over the years, but the city’s charter still calls for such a post.
Ferraro, originally a Republican, did not succeed in being elected until he was offered the Democratic Party line to run for the 2nd Ward in 1995, he said.
“If little green men came from Mars and offered me the party line, I would have become a Martian,“ Ferraro said.
His tenure ended in 2003.
Now, he says, his four main issues are high taxes that people on fixed incomes can no longer afford; crime reduction; getting the senior citizen building constructed; and helping youth.
Now 73 and retired, Ferraro said he will give full-time service to the part-time mayoral position.
“I believe Nov. 8 is my race,” he said.
--Bernice Paglia
posted by Bernice at 7:47 PM
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