No Supreme Court Decision Yet
A small band of demonstrators marched outside City Hall in support of Mayor Albert T. McWilliams Wednesday (Oct. 5, 2005).
"McWilliams for mayor, Plainfield first!" they shouted, along with chants of “Can’t be bossed!”
City Clerk Laddie Wyatt would not allow the group to place any signs on City Hall property and chided them for not having a permit. The dozen marchers disbanded in about 15 minutes.
Meanwhile, the State Supreme Court had yet to decide whether to consider an appeal made by McWilliams and city and county Republicans asking to overturn an Appellate Division decision that the mayor could not appear on the November ballot. Late Wednesday afternoon, state judiciary spokeswoman Tammy Kendig said.
“It’s unlikely they will decide today,” she said.
Given a 3-0 decision by the Appellate judges, the Supreme Court can decline to hear the appeal.
The legal action began after Union County Clerk Joanne Rajoppi rejected the mayor’s filing to run as a Republican filling a vacancy on the ballot. Rajoppi cited the “sore loser” law that states a primary candidate who loses, as McWilliams did, cannot then file to run in the general election under a different party affiliation.
Still, things looked good for McWilliams when Superior Court Judge Walter R. Barisonek found the state statute unconstitutional and ordered McWilliams placed on the ballot.
Former Assemblywoman Angela Perun, who was part of the demonstration Wednesday, said she didn’t know what the Supreme Court would do, but she said, “The speed with which the Appellate Division gave its decision really amazes me.”
It took Barisonek 90 minutes to read his decision last week.
“I don’t see how the members of the judiciary could have given full attention to 18 pages of Barisonek’s decision,“ she said, noting the appeal was filed at 10 a.m. and the Appellate Division response came at 1:30 p.m. Monday.
"McWilliams for mayor, Plainfield first!" they shouted, along with chants of “Can’t be bossed!”City Clerk Laddie Wyatt would not allow the group to place any signs on City Hall property and chided them for not having a permit. The dozen marchers disbanded in about 15 minutes.
Meanwhile, the State Supreme Court had yet to decide whether to consider an appeal made by McWilliams and city and county Republicans asking to overturn an Appellate Division decision that the mayor could not appear on the November ballot. Late Wednesday afternoon, state judiciary spokeswoman Tammy Kendig said.
“It’s unlikely they will decide today,” she said.
Given a 3-0 decision by the Appellate judges, the Supreme Court can decline to hear the appeal.
The legal action began after Union County Clerk Joanne Rajoppi rejected the mayor’s filing to run as a Republican filling a vacancy on the ballot. Rajoppi cited the “sore loser” law that states a primary candidate who loses, as McWilliams did, cannot then file to run in the general election under a different party affiliation.
Still, things looked good for McWilliams when Superior Court Judge Walter R. Barisonek found the state statute unconstitutional and ordered McWilliams placed on the ballot.
Former Assemblywoman Angela Perun, who was part of the demonstration Wednesday, said she didn’t know what the Supreme Court would do, but she said, “The speed with which the Appellate Division gave its decision really amazes me.”
It took Barisonek 90 minutes to read his decision last week.
“I don’t see how the members of the judiciary could have given full attention to 18 pages of Barisonek’s decision,“ she said, noting the appeal was filed at 10 a.m. and the Appellate Division response came at 1:30 p.m. Monday.
--Bernice Paglia
KEYWORDS: politics, elections
posted by Bernice at 6:57 PM
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