Vic to be mayor again! Woohoo!

Evidently, in a last minute change of heart, Dean Dafis decided to vote for Vic.  Congratulations, Vic.  Well deserved.

This was a snub to Lembrich, who is said to have already planned an inauguration party.

https://villagegreennj.com/towns/maplewood/dramatic-moment-deluca-voted-mayor-committee-members-lembrich-expresses-shock/

Some real House of Cards level intrigue going on with political alliances shifting in the breeze.  I'm surprised those in the know aren't providing more inside information.

From what I heard TC Member Lembrich had already ordered one of these sashes.

In defense of Mr. Dafis............who I don't know .  Thoreau tells us "the only obligation is to do at all times that which I consider right"  He did just that and is to be commended

Ok.......I learned two useful things at Rutgers

I just watched the tape of the Meeting which was linked on Village Green. Very interesting. I wonder what it was all about.

My guess is Lembrich pushed too hard in his bid for mayor and was too aggressive behind the scenes. He's not as refined as Vic in political matters. This opens things up for McGehee to be mayor in 2019.

yahooyahoo said:

My guess is Lembrich was a bit of a bully behind the scenes and pushed too hard in his bid for mayor. This opens things up for McGehee to be mayor in 2019.

Interesting observation but Lembrich has a full year to eat a little humble pie and mend a few political fences.  " Yon Cassius has a lean and hungry look"

My comments regarding Greg were in relationship to Dean's statements.

I'm not sure what Frank is referring to but it sounds like some outside forces were putting pressure on him regarding this process.

I hope they can all get along next year.  As leader of the Democratic Party in town, Ian will need to use his skills as a professional mediator.

It was a fairly open secret (we thought) that Dafis would support Lembrich for mayor, to the point that until last night I didn't realize that Dafis had intended for the conversation he apparently had about it to be confidential. It did put him in an awkward position on the same ticket as Vic.

From the comments of Dafis and McGehee, perhaps some of our local county/state legislators went to bat for Vic, or at least the idea that he should have one more year as mayor to ease the transition to one of the newer TC members. McGehee sharply criticized the influence that people outside the TC had on the process.

Lembrich's utter shock and speechlessness at the end is a strong counterpoint to anyone who says that all of these TC matters are hashed out in advance.

Stoughton said:

It was a fairly open secret (we thought) that Dafis would support Lembrich for mayor, to the point that until last night I didn't realize that Dafis had intended for the conversation he apparently had about it to be confidential. It did put him in an awkward position on the same ticket as Vic.


From the comments of Dafis and McGehee, perhaps some of our local county/state legislators went to bat for Vic, or at least the idea that he should have one more year as mayor to ease the transition to one of the newer TC members. McGehee sharply criticized the influence that people outside the TC had on the process.


Lembrich's utter shock and speechlessness at the end is a strong counterpoint to anyone who says that all of these TC matters are hashed out in advance.

They were hashed out in advance...........and then they were rehashed

There goes the argument that the TC moves in lockstep with one another.  

Stoughton said:

It was a fairly open secret (we thought) that Dafis would support Lembrich for mayor, to the point that until last night I didn't realize that Dafis had intended for the conversation he apparently had about it to be confidential.

I know several people who said they were told by Dafis personally that he was voting for Lembrich.  The idea that this was supposed to be confidential and kept under wraps, as Dafis seemed to suggest in his remarks, seems very disingenuous.  I did not speak with Dafis myself, but multiple people in town I know well said thet he spoke to them passionately about the need for new leadership, how Lembrich would be better for the community going forward, etc. and assured them that he was voting for Lembrich despite running with DeLuca. The idea that people knew who Dafis had promised to vote for because Lembrich leaked it, therefore, seems laughable.

I know that at least two of these people are now feeling very burned, and doubting whether Dafis can be trusted.  That he obviously did not give Lembrich any warning that he was changing his vote was also very poor form, in my opinion.  The meeting was really painful to watch, both for the "will he or won't he" drama that Dafis built up during his long speech and the clear pain Lembrich (and McGehee, it seemed) endured watching a promise so publicly broken.  Regardless of whether you are in the Vic or Greg "camp" (I consider myself in both), it was disheartening to see how this happened.

The  prime obligation borne by Mr Dafis is and was to cast his votes in a manner best suited to bring the maximum benefit to the people of Maplewood.  He did so.  He was not elected to  win friends and be a touchy feeley candidate.

It is the right, nay the obligation to represent constituents.  The idea that a politician cannot change his   mind would make a good Abbot and Costello routine  .

About time we sat someone on the TC who had political courage  

author, your ability to construct straw men is impressive.  Of course Dafis was elected to do what is best for Maplewood; no one would argue otherwise.  What I fail to see is how embarrassing Lembrich publicly and apparently without warning was an act of "political courage".  Sad times indeed if that is what passes as courageous these days.  Also, I am concerned about how effective Dafis can be on the TC if at least half of his colleagues do not think they can take him at his word.  

A) I am glad that Vic is in the captain's seat again.   He is a great Mayor.

But

B) The big lead up to the announcement by Mr. Dafis - in his rambling incoherent speech  - would make Donald Trump proud.  Perhaps the producers of The Apprentice might be interested in speaking to him about a hosting role.

tomdevon said:

What I fail to see is how embarrassing Lembrich publicly and apparently without warning was an act of "political courage". 

Tom, it was apparent that McGehee had a written response already prepared. Do you make anything of that?

tomdevon said:

author, your ability to construct straw men is impressive.  Of course Dafis was elected to do what is best for Maplewood; no one would argue otherwise.  What I fail to see is how embarrassing Lembrich publicly and apparently without warning was an act of "political courage".  Sad times indeed if that is what passes as courageous these days.  Also, I am concerned about how effective Dafis can be on the TC if at least half of his colleagues do not think they can take him at his word.  

The very act of changing his mind when so many thought his decision was cast in stone was an act of Political Courage.  He acted in what he considered to be the best interest of the people of Maplewood

As well as constructing straw men...I belong to a group well known for building large, but hollow Wooden Horses

Mr. Devon........you are proposing a return to  the Maplewood Lockstep Dance

author said:

Mr. Devon........you are proposing a return to  the Maplewood Lockstep Dance

Either way, it’s a 3-2 vote.

DaveSchmidt
Tom, it was apparent that McGehee had a written response already prepared. Do you make anything of that?

DaveSchmidt, that was not apparent to me.  If anything, MeGehee's remarks seemed rough and raw in the moment, as opposed to Dafis's crafted address.  McGehee may have jotted down some notes, but he did not seem like he was prepared for or expected what Dafis did.  Of course, I could be wrong, but that was my impression in watching it.

author said:

Mr. Devon........you are proposing a return to  the Maplewood Lockstep Dance

author, I assure you that I favor no such thing.  What I fear is a decline in the civility and collegiality that I have come to admire in our TC.  Our national government is already broken by a complete downfall in those areas.  Watching what went down on Tuesday night left me with a very uneasy feeling, even as someone who thinks DeLuca is a very fine Mayor.

tomdevon said:

DaveSchmidt, that was not apparent to me.  If anything, MeGehee's remarks seemed rough and raw in the moment, as opposed to Dafis's crafted address.  McGehee may have jotted down some notes, but he did not seem like he was prepared for or expected what Dafis did.  Of course, I could be wrong, but that was my impression in watching it.

Thanks. He appeared to me to be reading, but I, too, could be wrong. If he was, I’d echo your last sentence to author above (to be clear, with no unease toward McGehee).

sbenois said:

A) I am glad that Vic is in the captain's seat again.   He is a great Mayor.

But


B) The big lead up to the announcement by Mr. Dafis - in his rambling incoherent speech  - would make Donald Trump proud.  Perhaps the producers of The Apprentice might be interested in speaking to him about a hosting role.

I agree completely sbenois.  Hopefully that kind of primetime drama suspense and "look at me" self-serving monologue is not what we have to look forward to from Mr. Dafis going forward. It left a very bad taste in my mouth.  It actually reminded me of LeBron's "Decision" fiasco where he set up a live TV special to announce that he was leaving his hometown team.  That kind of showmanship is completely inappropriate, especially among neighbors and colleagues in Maplewood.

You got what you got because you failed to elect a clearly superior candidate just because he was running on the "wrong" line. 

Burner said:

You got what you got because you failed to elect a clearly superior candidate just because he was running on the "wrong" line. 

And there is that.  When the chips were down he stepped up to the plate and offered of himself......not to belittle the Dem candidates....they were not informed of the problem.  Mike was and showed his mettle.

Hope he runs again and wins

Burner said:

You got what you got because you failed to elect a clearly superior candidate just because he was running on the "wrong" line. 

to some people, he was only "superior" specifically because he was running on the other line.  I found his answers to questions about his claims of budget mismanagement to be evasive and/or incorrect.  And yes let's be honest, in 2017 continuing to be a Republican in NJ calls one's judgement into serious question.

ml1 said:

Burner said:

You got what you got because you failed to elect a clearly superior candidate just because he was running on the "wrong" line. 

to some people, he was only "superior" specifically because he was running on the other line.  I found his answers to questions about his claims of budget mismanagement to be evasive and/or incorrect.  And yes let's be honest, in 2017 continuing to be a Republican in NJ calls one's judgement into serious question.

Agree with ml1.  Even if people in Maplewood are looking for an alternative to the Democratic Party, it is unlikely they will turn to the GOP.  For many in our town, the very idea of voting for a Republican right now at any level would be vomit-inducing.

If Mike Summersgill wants to be on the TC, I'd recommend he switch parties, get involved and then work for the MDC endorsement.  And if he doesn't get it, run in the primary.

And also, don't make claims of financial mismanagement by the TC unless you have a really well-researched, buttoned up argument to back it up.

ml1 said:

If Mike Summersgill wants to be on the TC, I'd recommend he switch parties, get involved and then work for the MDC endorsement.  And if he doesn't get it, run in the primary.

And also, don't make claims of financial mismanagement by the TC unless you have a really well-researched, buttoned up argument to back it up.

The essence of Democracy is choice/a realistic choice.I was never happy in the old days under an eternally elected Republican Mayor.  Although yes he was a good Mayor for the  Eisenhower like tranquil times.   And then I rejoiced as one by one the Dems started getting elected to the TC.  But the pendulum continued swinging till eventually we had all Dems and all Dems and all Dems.

Democracy is best served when alternating points of view and ideas are presented and allowed to take seed

Arlo Guthrie even registers as a Republican to work towards this.  There really is a GroupW bench and the little pencils by the way

Maybe the Maplewood realtors who take such delight in showing our housing stock to New Yorkers should switch their target group to residents of Ames Iowa