Maplewood Democratic Committee Seeks Submissions From Those Interested in the Party's Endorsement for Township Committee

The Maplewood Democratic Committee is seeking submissions from those interested in receiving the party's endorsement for the upcoming Township Committee election. The two seats currently held by Nancy Adams and Greg Lembrich will be up for election in November. Nancy and Greg have announced their intention to run again together and to seek the Maplewood Democratic Committee's endorsement.

The Committee will consider their and the submissions of all others interested in a March meeting. All those interested in running with the MDC endorsement in the June primary should submit a resume and letter of interest to iangrodman@gmail.com BY MARCH 1.

There may also be opportunities for those who are interested to run as Maplewood Democratic Committee district leaders in the June primary. District Leaders are charged with supporting the Democratic Party and its candidates, working to elect Democratic candidates, attending meetings and events of the Maplewood Democratic Committee and Essex County Democratic Committee, and participating in the process to select endorsed candidates for Maplewood Township Committee. Interested individuals can submit a resume and letter of interest to iangrodman@gmail.com.

Thank you,

Ian Grodman, Chair

Maplewood Democratic Committee  

What are the odds that the MDC would endorse anyone besides Adams & Lembrich?

https://villagegreennj.com/election/adams-lembrich-announce-re-election-bid-maplewood-township-committee/

yahooyahoo said:

What are the odds that the MDC would endorse anyone besides Adams & Lembrich?

https://villagegreennj.com/election/adams-lembrich-announce-re-election-bid-maplewood-township-committee/

What were the odds that Lembrich would have won a seat in the first place.   He ran against a TC member

who used to frolic with dinosaurs and ran on what was believed to be a popular program...........it clearly was not   He was a relative new comer and ran on his own platform

Now there are no pressing issues........no other strong candidates.  The odds....take two and hit to left

No pressing issues?  Pedestrian safety/traffic calming; workarounds for reduction in SALT deduction; police/community relations issues; proliferation of mixed use multi-family buildings, especially on/near SA, loss of the 31 bus service along Valley Street, leaving much of town with no public transit option; limited social service support from the county; library expansion/renovation plan implementation depending on State funding awarded; to name just a few. 

author said:

Now there are no pressing issues........no other strong candidates.  The odds....take two and hit to left

joan_crystal said:

No pressing issues?  Pedestrian safety/traffic calming; workarounds for reduction in SALT deduction; police/community relations issues; proliferation of mixed use multi-family buildings, especially on/near SA, loss of the 31 bus service along Valley Street, leaving much of town with no public transit option; limited social service support from the county; library expansion/renovation plan implementation depending on State funding awarded; to name just a few. 

None visible from his apartment window, perhaps.

One of the new mixed use multifamily structures is definitely visible from windows in his apartment building.  Not sure about the rest.

joan_crystal said:

One of the new mixed use multifamily structures is definitely visible from windows in his apartment building.  Not sure about the rest.

I think that's "old business" for him.

nohero said:

author said:

Now there are no pressing issues........no other strong candidates.  The odds....take two and hit to left

joan_crystal said:

No pressing issues?  Pedestrian safety/traffic calming; workarounds for reduction in SALT deduction; police/community relations issues; proliferation of mixed use multi-family buildings, especially on/near SA, loss of the 31 bus service along Valley Street, leaving much of town with no public transit option; limited social service support from the county; library expansion/renovation plan implementation depending on State funding awarded; to name just a few. 

None visible from his apartment window, perhaps.

True but I have a great view of the Circus Building and the poll is growing concerning the next appearance

of the nude dude

And with all do respect to joan...........when are these not important matters?  Important yes but

also they seems perennial

The 31 bus issue is brand new.  Service was terminated last week.  The library issue is new. State funding was approved by referendum this past November.  We are still awaiting determination as to whether Maplewood will get some or all of funding requested.  SALT reduction is new.  Congress just passed legislation limiting deduction to $10,000 for 2018 in late December 2017.  Police/Community relations has come to a head recently with the firing of the former police chief and proposal for a civilian complaint review board for Maplewood.  TC is presently addressing pedestrian safety through a study now in progress by a consultant hired by the State Department of Transportation and traffic calming through the designation of numerous new stop streets, eight of which are on this evening's TC meeting agenda.  Yet another multifamily mixed use building is about to break ground on SA. Limited social services from the county is a problem that was recently identified by the Seniors Advisory Committee which has requested, within the past few months, that the town work to work to establish better relations with the County in hopes they will be more responsive to our at risk population.  All of these are very current issues which can be expected to be key issues in this year's election.

joan_crystal said:

The 31 bus issue is brand new.  Service was terminated last week.  The library issue is new. State funding was approved by referendum this past November.  We are still awaiting determination as to whether Maplewood will get some or all of funding requested.  SALT reduction is new.  Congress just passed legislation limiting deduction to $10,000 for 2018 in late December 2017.  Police/Community relations has come to a head recently with the firing of the former police chief and proposal for a civilian complaint review board for Maplewood.  TC is presently addressing pedestrian safety through a study now in progress by a consultant hired by the State Department of Transportation and traffic calming through the designation of numerous new stop streets, eight of which are on this evening's TC meeting agenda.  Yet another multifamily mixed use building is about to break ground on SA. Limited social services from the county is a problem that was recently identified by the Seniors Advisory Committee which has requested, within the past few months, that the town work to work to establish better relations with the County in hopes they will be more responsive to our at risk population.  All of these are very current issues which can be expected to be key issues in this year's election.

Yes Joan the termination of the independent 31 bus is new.  Wasn't that same line run by NJ Transit at one time?   No matter what the case I don't think there is much our TC can do about the matter.  The library        issue and the ultimate outcome has been going on for years. 

Police relations surface and submerge.   I was in Newark during the insurrection.   It was pretty funny to   see police in combat gear telling the crowds to go home      "We are home baby" was the refrain.                       It simmers and submerges........but police community issues is an on going thing.

Since it is a guarantor of Democracy...........yes the elections are a necessary thing

But since this is a  one party town.............it is just going through the motions

The 31 and the long defunct 32 have been run as a franchise for the 37 years I have been in town.  I don't know if they were run by NJT prior to that.  One approach being considered is lobbying NJT to take over the lost portion of the route since they approved terminating the franchise.  Loss of public transit is a serious issue for those of us who do not drive and rely on public transport to get around.  Students using that bus to get to/from Columbia HS and seniors relying on that route to get to/from St. Barnabas Hospital and Livingston Mall/ Ambulatory Care Center are two of the populations most impacted but not the only ones.  An added advantage to having NJT take over the route could have the added advantage of expanding the areas of Maplewood served by Access Link.

joan_crystal said:

The 31 and the long defunct 32 have been run as a franchise for the 37 years I have been in town.  I don't know if they were run by NJT prior to that.  One approach being considered is lobbying NJT to take over the lost portion of the route since they approved terminating the franchise.  Loss of public transit is a serious issue for those of us who do not drive and rely on public transport to get around.  Students using that bus to get to/from Columbia HS and seniors relying on that route to get to/from St. Barnabas Hospital and Livingston Mall/ Ambulatory Care Center are two of the populations most impacted but not the only ones.  An added advantage to having NJT take over the route could have the added advantage of expanding the areas of Maplewood served by Access Link.

Add me to the list of non drivers.   I gave it up about a year before I had my heart attack as I did not want to endanger any innocents.   I would have preferred to have been wrong but it was an interesting experience

So for now shanks mare works...........also living in the Village I can buy everything short of a weed wacker.

Got the Senior Shuttle down to a science.   The friday shop rite trip takes me to within a few hundred

feet of my primary

Now it is a bit like threading your way through Alice in Wonderland.........but the County operates

a shuttle that will take you anywhere with in the confines of the county...............super nice buses

also.   Need to make an appointment  at least one and no more than two weeks in advance

Once you wind up the top it works well.    I had pre registered years ago for a Barnabas run

Now all goes smoothly

Author:  I sent you a PM asking about your experience with the county senior bus service.

joan_crystal said:

Author:  I sent you a PM asking about your experience with the county senior bus service.

Right back at you......If I missed any pertinent material ,   let me know.

Do we know who the candidates who applied for endorsement by the Maplewood Democratic Committee are?  Maybe just Lembrich and Adams, but I'd be curious to know if anyone else threw his/her hat into the ring.

Spoiler alert!

The MDC endorsed Adams and Lembrich.

yahooyahoo said:

Spoiler alert!
The MDC endorsed Adams and Lembrich.

Clearly this was not a surprise.  Were there even any other candidates?  

Any word on whether the local GOP plans to contest this year?  If so, will they run two candidates for the two seats?  Or just one as they have the past few times?  Obviously we will find out in a few weeks, but curious if anyone here has an idea.

I don't know of any other candidates.  The democratic process in Maplewood is not very democratic.

tomdevon said:

yahooyahoo said:

Spoiler alert!
The MDC endorsed Adams and Lembrich.

Clearly this was not a surprise.  Were there even any other candidates?  

Any word on whether the local GOP plans to contest this year?  If so, will they run two candidates for the two seats?  Or just one as they have the past few times?  Obviously we will find out in a few weeks, but curious if anyone here has an idea.

yahooyahoo said:

I don't know of any other candidates.  The democratic process in Maplewood is not very democratic.

Just three years ago, a candidate who was not endorsed by the local Democratic committee won a seat on the TC.

How could it be more democratic? Anyone who wants to run can. He or she just has to get a relatively small number of signatures on a petition. The endorsement of the Party Committee does not seem to make much of a difference in a Town of this size.

Because he spent $15,000.

ETA:  I was wrong, he spent $27,000 to win the Democratic primary.  Plus several thousand more in the general election for a total of well over $30,000.  

https://joestrupp.blogspot.com/2015/10/tc-candidate-lembrichs-campaign.html?_sm_au_=iJVrjNQDvZ6ffNRs

"We reported in July that Lembrich, who along with Adams beat incumbent Jerry Ryan in the Democratic primary, had spent more than $27,000 in that race."

DaveSchmidt said:

yahooyahoo said:

I don't know of any other candidates.  The democratic process in Maplewood is not very democratic.

Just three years ago, a candidate who was not endorsed by the local Democratic committee won a seat on the TC.

It makes a huge difference.  You win by either spending a ton of money (Fred Profeta, Greg Lembrich) or getting the party endorsement.

LOST said:

How could it be more democratic? Anyone who wants to run can. He or she just has to get a relatively small number of signatures on a petition. The endorsement of the Party Committee does not seem to make much of a difference in a Town of this size.

it's not as though there isn't any new blood on the TC however.  Four of the current members have been in office fewer than 3 years.  Three of them have received the endorsement of the MDC.  So it's not like there haven't been opportunities for new people to get in front of the MDC and make a case for themselves to receive an endorsement.

yahooyahoo said:

Because he spent $15,000.

ETA:  I was wrong, he spent $27,000 to win the Democratic primary.  Plus several thousand more in the general election for a total of well over $30,000.  

https://joestrupp.blogspot.com/2015/10/tc-candidate-lembrichs-campaign.html?_sm_au_=iJVrjNQDvZ6ffNRs


"We reported in July that Lembrich, who along with Adams beat incumbent Jerry Ryan in the Democratic primary, had spent more than $27,000 in that race."

DaveSchmidt said:

yahooyahoo said:

I don't know of any other candidates.  The democratic process in Maplewood is not very democratic.

Just three years ago, a candidate who was not endorsed by the local Democratic committee won a seat on the TC.

There is clearly a distinction between having the line and running off of it.  I have heard that Vic DeLuca spent far more than Lembrich when he ran off the line in 2005 for his "Just Vote Vic" campaign against Fred Profeta and Ian Grodman.  He has received the MDC endorsement since, and been re-elected several times without significant challenge (to my memory).  

Lembrich obviously spent a lot too.  But Frank McGehee and Dean Dafis, it seems, needed to spend relatively little to win their seats over the last two years. Having the line was obviously a big advantage.  I think generally potential candidates will be reluctant to run off the line unless they have strong support and/or are prepared to raise and spend lots of dough to make themselves competitive.  

Nonetheless, the fact that it has happened twice in the past dozen years shows that it can be done.  Interesting that DeLuca has been Mayor for the last 10 years and Lembrich came within one last-minute vote of unseating him.  Also worth noting that Nancy Adams ran off the line a decade or so ago (with Lester Lewis Powder as her running mate, I think).  Both lost that election, but have since served on the TC after getting the MDC endorsement and winning.  So I think democracy, or at least the 21st Century version of it, is alive and well in Maplewood.

tomdevon said:

yahooyahoo said:

Because he spent $15,000.

ETA:  I was wrong, he spent $27,000 to win the Democratic primary.  Plus several thousand more in the general election for a total of well over $30,000.  

https://joestrupp.blogspot.com/2015/10/tc-candidate-lembrichs-campaign.html?_sm_au_=iJVrjNQDvZ6ffNRs


"We reported in July that Lembrich, who along with Adams beat incumbent Jerry Ryan in the Democratic primary, had spent more than $27,000 in that race."

DaveSchmidt said:

yahooyahoo said:

I don't know of any other candidates.  The democratic process in Maplewood is not very democratic.

Just three years ago, a candidate who was not endorsed by the local Democratic committee won a seat on the TC.

There is clearly a distinction between having the line and running off of it.  I have heard that Vic DeLuca spent far more than Lembrich when he ran off the line in 2005 for his "Just Vote Vic" campaign against Fred Profeta and Ian Grodman.  He has received the MDC endorsement since, and been re-elected several times without significant challenge (to my memory).  




Lembrich obviously spent a lot too.  But Frank McGehee and Dean Dafis, it seems, needed to spend relatively little to win their seats over the last two years. Having the line was obviously a big advantage.  I think generally potential candidates will be reluctant to run off the line unless they have strong support and/or are prepared to raise and spend lots of dough to make themselves competitive.  




Nonetheless, the fact that it has happened twice in the past dozen years shows that it can be done.  Interesting that DeLuca has been Mayor for the last 10 years and Lembrich came within one last-minute vote of unseating him.  Also worth noting that Nancy Adams ran off the line a decade or so ago (with Lester Lewis Powder as her running mate, I think).  Both lost that election, but have since served on the TC after getting the MDC endorsement and winning.  So I think democracy, or at least the 21st Century version of it, is alive and well in Maplewood.

Two candidates elected over a dozen years without the Democratic endorsement proves it can be done

but it is not an inspiring figure

it's not as though the MDC bestows an endorsement on some random person.  The people who get the endorsement have a resume and a record of community service, and they have to give a presentation to the committee, along with a letter of intent.

Did anyone stop to think that maybe these folks generally end up winning the primary because they are usually the most impressive of the folks who stepped forward to show interest?  They get the endorsement for the same reasons they get more votes -- they have a record, they campaign hard, and they present themselves well.

yahooyahoo said:

It makes a huge difference.  You win by either spending a ton of money (Fred Profeta, Greg Lembrich) or getting the party endorsement.

What improvements would you like to see in Maplewood’s democratic process?

personally, I think the democratic process in Maplewood is being let down by the Maplewood Republicans, not the Democratic Committee.  If there is one valid complaint imho, it's that unaffiliated voters essentially have no say in the process.  They can't vote in the Democratic primary, and the general election is essentially a fait accompli because the GOP doesn't even typically contest both TC seats.  Give Mike Summersgill credit for one thing -- he's the first Republican in years to actually get out and campaign and try to contest the election.  

But until the local GOP starts to field two viable candidates, and actually gets out and campaigns, a lot of Maplewood voters are essentially shut out of the process.

But that sure as hell isn't the MDC's fault.

Non-partisan elections and no slates allowed.

DaveSchmidt said:

yahooyahoo said:

It makes a huge difference.  You win by either spending a ton of money (Fred Profeta, Greg Lembrich) or getting the party endorsement.

What improvements would you like to see in Maplewood’s democratic process?

Unaffiliated voters can and do declare party affiliation for the purpose of voting in the primary election.  Thus, it is not completely accurate to state that unaffiliated voters are excluded from the process.  There are a number of independents who declare for the party most apt to hold primaries just so they can have a vote in the primary election process.  To call the voters  Republicans or Democrats depending on the primary in which they want to vote would be somewhat inaccurate.