Democratic Committee Seeking Submissions

The Maplewood Democratic Committee is seeking submissions from those interested in running for Township Committee with the Committee's endorsement in the June 2019 Primary Election.

There will be one seat up for election, currently held by Frank McGehee (Frank recently announced he is planning to run again). The winner of the Democratic Primary in June will be the Democratic candidate in the General Election in November. The term begins on January 1, 2020.

Those interested in seeking the endorsement of the Democratic Committee should forward a letter of interest and resume to iangrodman@gmail.com by February 28. The Committee will interview those interested the following week.

Thank you,

Ian Grodman

Chair, Maplewood Democratic Committee

I remember seeing this before I heard Frank McGehee was seeking reelection. Are you asking people to submit to run against McGehee in the Primary?

ridski said:
I remember seeing this before I heard Frank McGehee was seeking reelection. Are you asking people to submit to run against McGehee in the Primary?

 They never pre-endorse a candidate before accepting all submissions.  Seems to be a very fair and democratic approach to the position.    

I am interested in running except I would not vote for myself.

author said:
I am interested in running except I would not vote for myself.

 Me neither. I wouldn't want to be part of an organization that would have me as a member.

author said:
I am interested in running except I would not vote for myself.

You're not the only one.

ml1 said:

author said:
I am interested in running except I would not vote for myself.

You're not the only one.

Aren't you a member of the cabal?

nohero said:

ml1 said:

author said:
I am interested in running except I would not vote for myself.

You're not the only one.

Aren't you a member of the cabal?

we prefer Star Chamber.

ml1 said:

author said:
I am interested in running except I would not vote for myself.

You're not the only one.

 Have to confess I thought it was Ridski  who would react that way.  Actually that would put me down only two votes.   An Author named Arthur can dream..

Can we cut the charade?  The committee will endorse Frank. Period. End of story.

jamie said:

ridski said:
I remember seeing this before I heard Frank McGehee was seeking reelection. Are you asking people to submit to run against McGehee in the Primary?

 They never pre-endorse a candidate before accepting all submissions.  Seems to be a very fair and democratic approach to the position.    

Jamie, please.  "Fair and democratic" is a big stretch.  The decision is a formality.

yahooyahoo said:

jamie said:

ridski said:
I remember seeing this before I heard Frank McGehee was seeking reelection. Are you asking people to submit to run against McGehee in the Primary?

 They never pre-endorse a candidate before accepting all submissions.  Seems to be a very fair and democratic approach to the position.    

Jamie, please.  "Fair and democratic" is a big stretch.  The decision is a formality.

 Weill at least the phrase"fair and balanced" has not yet been uttered.

yahooyahoo said:

jamie said:

ridski said:
I remember seeing this before I heard Frank McGehee was seeking reelection. Are you asking people to submit to run against McGehee in the Primary?

 They never pre-endorse a candidate before accepting all submissions.  Seems to be a very fair and democratic approach to the position.    

Jamie, please.  "Fair and democratic" is a big stretch.  The decision is a formality.

This year, probably.  Not always.

The point is, it's still open.  And, there is a primary.  

Good morning all. Sorry to see so much cynicism.

The Maplewood Democratic Committee solicits those who are interested in running every year. I don't think that you will find anyone who has ever expressed an interest saying they were treated unfairly or dismissed without a full opportunity to present and express themselves. We have, more often than not, endorsed incumbents. One of the reasons they are incumbents is that they have impressed enough of the electorate to have won an election previously. But when we consider those seeking the endorsement, we also look at their record of service on the Township Committee previously. There has been more than one occasion where an incumbent has not been endorsed.

Again, we welcome all to participate actively in this process. We appreciate all who are willing to step up and give it a shot.

When was the last time the committee did not endorse the incumbent who was running for re-election?

yahooyahoo said:
When was the last time the committee did not endorse the incumbent who was running for re-election?

I believe it involved Mr. Grodman and Mr. Profeta and Mr. DeLuca and Mr. Ryan.

But I could be wrong and don't mind being corrected.

yahooyahoo said:
When was the last time the committee did not endorse the incumbent who was running for re-election?

rather than ask such questions, why don't you list the times you believe it was a mistake for the committee to endorse the incumbent?

Usually the incumbent is in fact by far the best candidate to declare an intent to run.

ml1 said:

yahooyahoo said:
When was the last time the committee did not endorse the incumbent who was running for re-election?

rather than ask such questions, why don't you list the times you believe it was a mistake for the committee to endorse the incumbent?
Usually the incumbent is in fact by far the best candidate to declare an intent to run.

Last year. Is there a rule requiring the committee to endorse?

ml1 said:

yahooyahoo said:
When was the last time the committee did not endorse the incumbent who was running for re-election?

rather than ask such questions, why don't you list the times you believe it was a mistake for the committee to endorse the incumbent?
Usually the incumbent is in fact by far the best candidate to declare an intent to run.

And let's admit that your question is a distraction from the real issue which is the current process is not democratic or fair.

yahooyahoo said:

ml1 said:

yahooyahoo said:
When was the last time the committee did not endorse the incumbent who was running for re-election?

rather than ask such questions, why don't you list the times you believe it was a mistake for the committee to endorse the incumbent?
Usually the incumbent is in fact by far the best candidate to declare an intent to run.

And let's admit that your question is a distraction from the real issue which is the current process is not democratic or fair.

 But it does make for some great comic relief.

yahooyahoo said:

ml1 said:

yahooyahoo said:
When was the last time the committee did not endorse the incumbent who was running for re-election?

rather than ask such questions, why don't you list the times you believe it was a mistake for the committee to endorse the incumbent?
Usually the incumbent is in fact by far the best candidate to declare an intent to run.

And let's admit that your question is a distraction from the real issue which is the current process is not democratic or fair.

 Why isn't it democratic or fair?  The committee is composed of people elected from their neighborhoods.  They vote on a choice.  I don't know what alternative you would suggest.

yahooyahoo said:

ml1 said:

yahooyahoo said:
When was the last time the committee did not endorse the incumbent who was running for re-election?

rather than ask such questions, why don't you list the times you believe it was a mistake for the committee to endorse the incumbent?
Usually the incumbent is in fact by far the best candidate to declare an intent to run.

And let's admit that your question is a distraction from the real issue which is the current process is not democratic or fair.

it only seems undemocratic because Maplewood doesn't have a functioning Republican Party.  Which is absolutely not the fault of the MDC.

...and anyone running as an independent is tarred and feathered.

lord_pabulum said:
...and anyone running as an independent is tarred and feathered.

 By whom?

Do we really have to have the same discussion every year?

Maplewood has two Political Parties, Democrats and Republicans. Each Party is governed by a Committee made up of one man and one woman from each Election District. Those Committee Members are elected in a Primary. Any citizen of the United States who is 18 years of age and a resident of Maplewood is eligible to Register to vote in either Party and vote for the Committee Members from his or her Election District and is eligible to run for Committee Member. (This being Maplewood someone will raise the issue of whether a "Gender Fluid" person may run since there must be one Male and one Female, but I chose to not comment). In order to run one must get a few signatures on a Petition.

And any citizen 18 years of age and a resident may register to vote without declaring themselves in either Party, and IMHO, forfeit 50% of their Right to Vote.

In any event the Democratic Committee and the Republican Committee have decided to formally endorse candidates for the Township Committee, the legal Municipal Government. Mr. Grodman has publicly announced that anyone seeking the endorsement the members of the Democratic Committee is free to seek same. I am not sure if the Republicans do something similar.

It is my understanding that a person so endorsed must nevertheless obtain signatures on a Petition and submit same to the County Elections Commissioner in order to actually appear on the Primary Ballot. Any other citizen who is 18 years of age and a resident may do the same.

And then all citizens 18 years of age and residents of Maplewood who have chosen to register in one of the two Parties may go to the Polls and vote. And then the winners of the Democratic and Republican Parties are listed on the Ballot for the General Election on the first Tuesday following the first Monday in November. Any person who has not run in the Primary of either Party may also be listed on that Ballot by submitting a certain number of signatures on a Petition. It is my understanding that the number required is not great.

And then all residents who are citizens and at least 18 years of age have the right to vote for one of the candidates listed or may even write in the name of someone not listed. The person getting the most votes wins.

To me the only way the process could be more democratic (aside from the "gender fluidity" issue) is if.

1. No Petition was necessary to get on the Ballot so that even Author could be listed despite not one person actually supporting him. Or, I guess, no one could be listed and every voter could just write in whomever they wanted. ( I do not know any place where such system is in use except, perhaps, to pick a Class President in an Elementary School).

2. Ranked Voting   

The process could be made more democratic a number of ways:

1) The Democratic Committee does not endorse candidates.

2) Candidates can't run as a slate/ticket.

3) Maplewood conducts non-partisan elections.

4) Couples that live in the same home are not allowed to both serve as District Leaders on the Democratic Committee.

5) People that serve on the Township Committee are not allowed to serve as a District Leader for Democratic Committee.

yahooyahoo said:
The process could be made more democratic a number of ways:

1) The Democratic Committee does not endorse candidates.
2) Candidates can't run as a slate/ticket.
3) Maplewood conducts non-partisan elections.
4) Couples that live in the same home are not allowed to both serve as District Leaders on the Democratic Committee.
5) People that serve on the Township Committee are not allowed to serve as a District Leader for Democratic Committee.

 You’re really pushing too far.  My sense is that the committee has to pull teeth to get participation for anything.  You’re acting like getting a TC seat is some glorified prize. It’s not.   

You left one out, comrade Stalin:

6) The DC can't exist.

Red_Barchetta said:

yahooyahoo said:
The process could be made more democratic a number of ways:

1) The Democratic Committee does not endorse candidates.
2) Candidates can't run as a slate/ticket.
3) Maplewood conducts non-partisan elections.
4) Couples that live in the same home are not allowed to both serve as District Leaders on the Democratic Committee.
5) People that serve on the Township Committee are not allowed to serve as a District Leader for Democratic Committee.

 You’re really pushing too far.  My sense is that the committee has to pull teeth to get participation for anything.  You’re acting like getting a TC seat is some glorified prize. It’s not.   

I'll settle for non-partisan elections.

Nonpartisan elections are like libertarianism: a chimera, something that sounds appealing as a philosophy but never really assumes tangible form in the real world.