Democratic Committee Seeking Submissions

I guess South Orange and the Board of Education exist in a fantasy world.

https://www.facebook.com/SONJDems/

yahooyahoo said:
I guess South Orange and the Board of Education exist in a fantasy world.

The notion that these elections are truly nonpartisan exists in a fantasy world.  They are, of course, nonpartisan in name.  

yahooyahoo said:
I guess South Orange and the Board of Education exist in a fantasy world.

 South Orange government runs pretty well now. But prior to about 5 years ago it was not a model that any municipality would ever want to emulate. 

Good morning all! There are still 13 days to submit your resume and letter of interest to be considered for the Democratic endorsement in the Township Committee race. I know there are a lot of local leaders reading this who are interested. Please submit by February 28 to iangrodman@gmail.com. Thank you.

ml1 said:

yahooyahoo said:
I guess South Orange and the Board of Education exist in a fantasy world.

 South Orange government runs pretty well now. But prior to about 5 years ago it was not a model that any municipality would ever want to emulate. 

 Someone should do a PoliSci thesis comparing the election system of these two Towns and how those systems have effected governance.

tomcarlson said:

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

 Also, a two word reply to the nonpartisan election argument -

South Orange.

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.

 1. Maybe, but any group can endorse a candidate and why have Political Parties if they can't choose their own candidates. Of course you believe in non-partisan Elections. See 3 and the posts above.

2. So you want to limit what candidates can do? How is that Democratic. And if candidates are actually running as a team, not showing that on the ballot is just suppressing information. When candidates run as a slate or team the voter still must vote for the members individually.

3. See above.

4. First, they can't if they are a same sex couple. Second, a voter still has to vote for each. I know a number of hetero couples where I would vote for one and not the other. Third, recruiting people to run is not easy.

5. Not sure why that matters.

Bottom line, anyone can run and everyone can vote.

Further, the cure is often worse than the illness.

nohero said:

tomcarlson said:

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

 Also, a two word reply to the nonpartisan election argument -
South Orange.

 One word reply:

Newark

STANV said:

nohero said:

tomcarlson said:

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

 Also, a two word reply to the nonpartisan election argument -
South Orange.

 One word reply:
Newark

Don't I know it.

Years ago, I won the right of the Newark City Council to sue the mayor.  Talk about a dysfunctional government. 

STANV 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.

 1. Maybe, but any group can endorse a candidate and why have Political Parties if they can't choose their own candidates. Of course you believe in non-partisan Elections. See 3 and the posts above.
2. So you want to limit what candidates can do? How is that Democratic. And if candidates are actually running as a team, not showing that on the ballot is just suppressing information. When candidates run as a slate or team the voter still must vote for the members individually.
3. See above.
4. First, they can't if they are a same sex couple. Second, a voter still has to vote for each. I know a number of hetero couples where I would vote for one and not the other. Third, recruiting people to run is not easy.
5. Not sure why that matters.



Bottom line, anyone can run and everyone can vote.
Further, the cure is often worse than the illness.

Why does #5 matter?  

First, are you okay with someone holding two elected offices simultaneously?

Second, the TC member(s) then has direct influence and a vote to select which candidate is endorsed by the MDC.  

#4 and #5 are a consolidation of power into fewer hands that originally intended.  If the Republican party was currently in control of Maplewood's politics, I doubt you would have the same relaxed attitude about this.

I know there are many smart, talented folks on maplewoodonline who could do a great job serving on the Township Committee. Just want to remind everyone that February 28 is the deadline for submission to be considered for endorsement by the Maplewood Democratic Committee. Thanks!

yahooyahoo said:

STANV 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.

 1. Maybe, but any group can endorse a candidate and why have Political Parties if they can't choose their own candidates. Of course you believe in non-partisan Elections. See 3 and the posts above.
2. So you want to limit what candidates can do? How is that Democratic. And if candidates are actually running as a team, not showing that on the ballot is just suppressing information. When candidates run as a slate or team the voter still must vote for the members individually.
3. See above.
4. First, they can't if they are a same sex couple. Second, a voter still has to vote for each. I know a number of hetero couples where I would vote for one and not the other. Third, recruiting people to run is not easy.
5. Not sure why that matters.



Bottom line, anyone can run and everyone can vote.
Further, the cure is often worse than the illness.

Why does #5 matter?  
First, are you okay with someone holding two elected offices simultaneously?
Second, the TC member(s) then has direct influence and a vote to select which candidate is endorsed by the MDC.  
#4 and #5 are a consolidation of power into fewer hands that originally intended.  If the Republican party was currently in control of Maplewood's politics, I doubt you would have the same relaxed attitude about this.

 Sorry it took me so long to reply.

One is a Party Office and the other is a Public Office. It's rather commonplace. Senators and Congressmen have served as Chairs of the Republican and Democratic National Committees. I would guess that many Members of Congress, if not most, hold positions within their local Democratic or Republican Organizations.

If a TC Member who is also a County Committeeperson is running for re-election and seeking the Committee's endorsement he/she should certainly recuse themselves from voting. 

I lived here when the Republican Party held all five seats on the TC and I'm sure some, if not most, of those TC Members were GOP District Leaders. I didn't even think about it being a problem.

BTW, what I find odd in NJ is that some people hold two actual elected government positions. There are or have been Mayors and Town Council Members who at the same time were Members of the Legislature.

STANV said:

 Sorry it took me so long to reply.
One is a Party Office and the other is a Public Office. It's rather commonplace. Senators and Congressmen have served as Chairs of the Republican and Democratic National Committees. I would guess that many Members of Congress, if not most, hold positions within their local Democratic or Republican Organizations.
If a TC Member who is also a County Committeeperson is running for re-election and seeking the Committee's endorsement he/she should certainly recuse themselves from voting. 
I lived here when the Republican Party held all five seats on the TC and I'm sure some, if not most, of those TC Members were GOP District Leaders. I didn't even think about it being a problem.
BTW, what I find odd in NJ is that some people hold two actual elected government positions. There are or have been Mayors and Town Council Members who at the same time were Members of the Legislature.

 The one that comes to mind immediately is Sharpe James who was a state senator while Newark's mayor.

While this may hardly be news, I have heard that Frank McGehee received the endorsement of the Maplewood Democratic Committee earlier this week.  It was not clear to me whether any other candidates stepped forward, but McGehee was reportedly endorsed unanimously.  Now we wait to see whether any other Democrat chooses to run in the primary and/or whether any Republican chooses to run at all.  McGehee seems like a reasonably popular and uncontroversial TC member, so I would be surprised if he is seriously challenged in either the primary or in November.

tomdevon said:
While this may hardly be news, I have heard that Frank McGehee received the endorsement of the Maplewood Democratic Committee earlier this week.  It was not clear to me whether any other candidates stepped forward, but McGehee was reportedly endorsed unanimously.  Now we wait to see whether any other Democrat chooses to run in the primary and/or whether any Republican chooses to run at all.  McGehee seems like a reasonably popular and uncontroversial TC member, so I would be surprised if he is seriously challenged in either the primary or in November.

 SHOCKED!