Marlon Brownlee Resigns from Township Committee

http://villagegreennj.com/breaking-news/brownlee-resigns-maplewood-township-committee/

He represented Maplewood well and I was proud to have voted for him.  I thank him for his service and wish him and his family well.

As far as appointing a replacement, the article says that "the TC sends a notice to the Maplewood Democratic Committee, which then has  15 days from the vacancy to submit three candidates for replacement. The TC then has 15 days to select someone to replace Brownlee."

Do people think that the MDC/TC will appoint Frank McGehee?  That would give him the benefit of being in the seat before the November election, and also give a head start to Brownlee 's likely elected replacement?  Or do they just appoint a placeholder to serve on an interim basis until the end of the term?  I have been following the TC pretty closely, but I'm curious to hear the thoughts of others here who know more about local politics.

I can see both sides. As it's pretty likely that McGehee will win, maybe it's better that they just wait for the election. It wouldn't bother me, but I know some are sensitive to the appearance of one-party control and how it looks to install a candidate during an election cycle.

A short-term placeholder spot might be a fitting designation for someone who is aware of town issues and has demonstrated service to Maplewood for a long time, but never had the desire to do the campaigning.

A short term place holder would have to understand that there is no way he or she could be on the ballot in November.  A former TC member such as Ian, Ken, Kathy or Jerry would be a good choice.

The article said that one of the TC members asked if McGeehee is eligible to be one of the three nominees.  

I have mixed feelings on whether he should be or not.  For the sake of the democratic process, I would leave him off the list.

joan_crystal said:

A short term place holder would have to understand that there is no way he or she could be on the ballot in November.  A former TC member such as Ian, Ken, Kathy or Jerry would be a good choice.

or Fred

Not sure why the interim/replacement candidate should not be eligible to run in November. It is an election, people can say yes or no. And the people naming the interim person have been elected, they're not random people.

At higher levels of government - when a governor names a replacement in the U.S. Senate - that interim person can run for a full term after the interim period runs out. After all, it gives him/her a record to run on.

I think that the point is it's probably too late to get on the ballot for November.

Ah, got it, thanks

I hope I recall correctly that years ago when Ken Pettis resigned, Jerry was selected to fill that seat and then Jerry had to much later run in the regular election. In that instance there was plenty of time to get Jerry on the ballot.

McGeehee is already on the ballot for November thus I would think it would make sense for him to be selected as one of the three possibles by the Democratic Committee and later the TC . He would then still have to compete in the November race against the Republican.

I don't really see the point of having someone other than McGeehee to serve only from the fall until January when Frank will almost certainly start his elected term.

There is going to be an election in November, so selecting Frank McGehee to the TC now doesn't in any way subvert the will of the voters. I believe Frank is going to be a terrific TC member. I'm going to campaign with him in November, and I think everyone should vote for him.

I'm 99.999% sure Frank will win in November.  However, I feel it would be best for the TC to choose someone so it does not appear they are trying to influence anything.

so why did he resign?

oots said:

so why did he resign?

He said that he and his wife are moving out of Maplewood.  Apparently they sold their house already.  He can only serve on the TC while he is a Maplewood resident, which makes sense.

There is nothing wrong with the party appointing Mr McGehee, and there's nothing wrong with the TC selecting him.

And why shouldn't the Township Committee try to influence the outcome? They have the legal obligation to fill the vacancy. There's nothing untoward about how the vacancy was created. Besides, does anyone doubt their position on his candidacy?

I can think of only two reasons to not nominate and appoint him:

1. There is a person to whom folks would like to give the honor of serving, just for a few months

2. Mr McGehee declines, for whatever reason, to begin his service until January

Both of these seem unlikely.

yahooyahoo said:

I'm 99.999% sure Frank will win in November.  However, I feel it would be best for the TC to choose someone so it does not appear they are trying to influence anything.

State statute requires that the Maplewood Democratic Committee (the party that the majority of the Township Committee members, or in our case, all of them, are affiliated with) submits three names to the Township Committee, who will make the final decision as to who will complete the last four months of Marlon's term. The MDC is required to submit the three names within 15 days of notice by the Township (The Township Attorney advised me on August 3 of Marlon's resignation). As always, anyone who is interested in being considered should forward a resume and statement of interest to me by August 15.

what if the TC were evenly split due to vacancy (e.g, vacancy by death)?

Ian- Will the TC seriously consider anyone who submits their name and resume? 

iangrodman said:

State statute requires that the Maplewood Democratic Committee (the party that the majority of the Township Committee members, or in our case, all of them, are affiliated with) submits three names to the Township Committee, who will make the final decision as to who will complete the last four months of Marlon's term.

iangrodman, is the submission of names in the event of resignation done by the party of the member who resigned or the majority party on the TC?  You seem to say the latter, but at Tuesday's meeting Roger Desiderio seemed to say the former.  I realize in this case they are one and the same, but just curious.  For example, had the TC been split 4 Democrats and 1 Republican, and the lone Republican resigned, would the remaining Democrats be able to appoint a Democrat replacement suggested by the MDC?  Or would they need to select a Republican nominated by the Maplewood Republican organization?  Thanks.

I *think* that this may be the governing statute:

40A:16-11. Appointment to fill vacancy where incumbent was nominee of a political party; time to fill vacancy 
40A:16-11. Appointment to fill vacancy where incumbent was nominee of a political party; time to fill vacancy. If the incumbent whose office has become vacant was elected to office as the nominee of a political party, the municipal committee of the political party of which the incumbent was the nominee shall, no later than 15 days after the occurrence of the vacancy, present to the governing body the names of three nominees for the selection of a successor to fill the vacancy. The governing body shall, within 30 days after the occurrence of the vacancy, appoint one of the nominees as the successor to fill the vacancy. If the governing body fails to appoint one of the nominees within the time prescribed herein, the municipal committee that named the three nominees shall, within the next 15 days, appoint one of the nominees as the successor to fill the vacancy, and such person shall be sworn in immediately. If the municipal committee which nominated the incumbent fails to submit the names of the nominees within the time prescribed herein, the governing body may, within the next 15 days, fill the vacancy by the appointment of a successor from the same political party which had nominated the incumbent whose office has become vacant. 

If, on the effective date of this act, the governing body had previously received from the municipal committee the names of three nominees to fill any such vacancy and had not filled the vacancy, the governing body, within 30 days after the effective date of this act, shall appoint one of the nominees as the successor to fill the vacancy.

*I did not research this exhaustively and profess no knowledge of NJ municipal law.

In the case you posit, the Republican Party would submit a slate of names, and the Democrats on the Township Committee would select one of them. If they failed to do so (because of failing to get a majority of votes or failing to act at all), then the party would make the selection.

tomdevon said:

iangrodman said:

State statute requires that the Maplewood Democratic Committee (the party that the majority of the Township Committee members, or in our case, all of them, are affiliated with) submits three names to the Township Committee, who will make the final decision as to who will complete the last four months of Marlon's term.

iangrodman, is the submission of names in the event of resignation done by the party of the member who resigned or the majority party on the TC?  You seem to say the latter, but at Tuesday's meeting Roger Desiderio seemed to say the former.  I realize in this case they are one and the same, but just curious.  For example, had the TC been split 4 Democrats and 1 Republican, and the lone Republican resigned, would the remaining Democrats be able to appoint a Democrat replacement suggested by the MDC?  Or would they need to select a Republican nominated by the Maplewood Republican organization?  Thanks.

Yahooyahoo, the Township Committee will consider the three names put forward by the Maplewood Democratic Committee. Thanks.

Oops, I meant will the MDC seriously consider whomever submits their own name for the list of three, which will then be submitted to the TC.

iangrodman said:

Yahooyahoo, the Township Committee will consider the three names put forward by the Maplewood Democratic Committee. Thanks.

Thanks Steve and Jerry.

You're welcome.