Mayor off the ballot, appeal expected
A three-judge Appellate Division panel ruled Monday (Oct. 3, 2005) that Mayor Albert T. McWilliams, running as a Republican this time, may not appear on the Nov. 8 ballot.
The court gave the Plainfield Municipal Republican Committee until 2 p.m. Thursday to select another candidate.
McWilliams said Monday Republicans will take the matter to the Supreme Court.
McWilliams, a two-term Democrat, lost the June Democratic primary to Sharon Robinson-Briggs. Two weeks ago, he was invited to fill the Republican mayoral vacancy caused by the withdrawal of candidate Cheryl Arana. He changed his party affiliation and filed as a Republican candidate on Sept. 20. Union County Clerk Joanne Rajoppi accepted the filing, but on Sept. 21 rejected it on the grounds that it violated a “sore loser” law that bars a primary loser from running in the general election for the same municipal office.
The city and county GOP committees, along with McWilliams and three city voters, appealed her decision and after a day of oral arguments, Superior Court Judge Walter R. Barisonek issued a lengthy decision on Sept. 29 declaring the law, NJSA 19:13-14.1, unconstitutional.
The Union County Democratic Committee intervened and filed an appeal Friday.
But the court found Monday that the law is constitutional and said, “... by its clear terms, McWilliams is barred from being placed on the ballot for Mayor in the general election, and the County Clerk’s rejection of his candidacy was correct."
McWilliams, whose supporters held two meetings Sunday to bolster his campaign, said Monday the Republicans will appeal to the Supreme Court.
“We’re hopeful,“ he said. “We feel there is a substantial constitutional issue here.“
McWilliams said the two rallies were “very good.”
One was at the home of two New Democrats on West Seventh Street and one was at the mayor’s Prospect Avenue home. McWilliams said about 25 people attended the first one and 125 people came to his home.
Attendees were “a lot of people that are very enthusiastic and excited about this option.”
Asked whether he would mount a write-in campaign if the option of a GOP candidacy fell through, McWilliams said, ”I don’t know. I’m not ready to think about that right now.”
McWilliams said he gave the two groups an update Sunday on his campaign. He said his remarks also “focused on the fact that Sharon Robinson-Briggs has no experience in city government.”
“She won based on her ability to spend a lot of money and tell one big lie,” McWilliams said, referring to her charge that McWilliams laid off 18 police officers [followed by] despite a spike in homicides.
McWilliams said he told supporters about his accomplishments in his eight years as mayor and added, “If the Republican Party says it wants me, there is no reason why I should be barred.“
Neither Plainfield Republican Party Chairwoman Sandy Spector nor Union County Republican Party Chairman Phil Morin could be reached for comment Monday.
The whirlwind of political and potential ballot changes in less than three weeks is affecting others involved in election preparations.
Plainfield League of Women Voters President Alice Logie said the state LWV had granted the local chapter permission to include McWilliams in its forum, based on the assumption that he would get at least 20 percent of the votes. The Plainfield League publishes information on all the candidates before its forum, which this year will be held Nov. 1.
Now, if McWilliams doesn’t prevail in a Supreme Court appeal, she said, “I suppose we have to wait and see who the Republicans come up with.“
In April, Arana filed as a Republican, Robinson-Briggs filed on the Regular Democratic Organization and McWilliams, dumped on short notice from the party line, filed as a “New Democrat” with a full slate of City Committee, City Council, Freeholder and Assembly candidates. Bob Ferraro and Reginald Williams filed as independents on Primary Day.
McWilliams lost the primary, then Williams left the race after Rajoppi found his petitions insufficient. Arana said she was withdrawing in July, but never did so until Sept. 13. If McWilliams can’t be on the ballot, that will leave Ferraro, Robinson-Briggs and an as-yet-unknown Republican on the Nov. 8 ballot.
Alice Logie is not the president of the Plainfield League of Women Voters, as Plaintalker originally stated. Logie is treasurer of the organization and its contact person because there is no president right now.
The League has 30 members and many other officers, Logie said.
This organization provides forums for school board and municipal elections so that local voters can inform themselves on the issues and hear the candidates state their positions.
To see the latest newsletter, click HERE.
The court gave the Plainfield Municipal Republican Committee until 2 p.m. Thursday to select another candidate.
McWilliams said Monday Republicans will take the matter to the Supreme Court.
McWilliams, a two-term Democrat, lost the June Democratic primary to Sharon Robinson-Briggs. Two weeks ago, he was invited to fill the Republican mayoral vacancy caused by the withdrawal of candidate Cheryl Arana. He changed his party affiliation and filed as a Republican candidate on Sept. 20. Union County Clerk Joanne Rajoppi accepted the filing, but on Sept. 21 rejected it on the grounds that it violated a “sore loser” law that bars a primary loser from running in the general election for the same municipal office.
The city and county GOP committees, along with McWilliams and three city voters, appealed her decision and after a day of oral arguments, Superior Court Judge Walter R. Barisonek issued a lengthy decision on Sept. 29 declaring the law, NJSA 19:13-14.1, unconstitutional.
The Union County Democratic Committee intervened and filed an appeal Friday.But the court found Monday that the law is constitutional and said, “... by its clear terms, McWilliams is barred from being placed on the ballot for Mayor in the general election, and the County Clerk’s rejection of his candidacy was correct."
McWilliams, whose supporters held two meetings Sunday to bolster his campaign, said Monday the Republicans will appeal to the Supreme Court.
“We’re hopeful,“ he said. “We feel there is a substantial constitutional issue here.“
McWilliams said the two rallies were “very good.”
One was at the home of two New Democrats on West Seventh Street and one was at the mayor’s Prospect Avenue home. McWilliams said about 25 people attended the first one and 125 people came to his home.
Attendees were “a lot of people that are very enthusiastic and excited about this option.”
Asked whether he would mount a write-in campaign if the option of a GOP candidacy fell through, McWilliams said, ”I don’t know. I’m not ready to think about that right now.”
McWilliams said he gave the two groups an update Sunday on his campaign. He said his remarks also “focused on the fact that Sharon Robinson-Briggs has no experience in city government.”
“She won based on her ability to spend a lot of money and tell one big lie,” McWilliams said, referring to her charge that McWilliams laid off 18 police officers [followed by] despite a spike in homicides.
McWilliams said he told supporters about his accomplishments in his eight years as mayor and added, “If the Republican Party says it wants me, there is no reason why I should be barred.“
Neither Plainfield Republican Party Chairwoman Sandy Spector nor Union County Republican Party Chairman Phil Morin could be reached for comment Monday.
The whirlwind of political and potential ballot changes in less than three weeks is affecting others involved in election preparations.
Plainfield League of Women Voters President Alice Logie said the state LWV had granted the local chapter permission to include McWilliams in its forum, based on the assumption that he would get at least 20 percent of the votes. The Plainfield League publishes information on all the candidates before its forum, which this year will be held Nov. 1.
Now, if McWilliams doesn’t prevail in a Supreme Court appeal, she said, “I suppose we have to wait and see who the Republicans come up with.“
In April, Arana filed as a Republican, Robinson-Briggs filed on the Regular Democratic Organization and McWilliams, dumped on short notice from the party line, filed as a “New Democrat” with a full slate of City Committee, City Council, Freeholder and Assembly candidates. Bob Ferraro and Reginald Williams filed as independents on Primary Day.
McWilliams lost the primary, then Williams left the race after Rajoppi found his petitions insufficient. Arana said she was withdrawing in July, but never did so until Sept. 13. If McWilliams can’t be on the ballot, that will leave Ferraro, Robinson-Briggs and an as-yet-unknown Republican on the Nov. 8 ballot.
--Bernice Paglia
KEYWORDS: politics, elections
Alice Logie is not the president of the Plainfield League of Women Voters, as Plaintalker originally stated. Logie is treasurer of the organization and its contact person because there is no president right now.
The League has 30 members and many other officers, Logie said.
This organization provides forums for school board and municipal elections so that local voters can inform themselves on the issues and hear the candidates state their positions.
To see the latest newsletter, click HERE.
posted by Bernice at 6:53 PM
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