What A Difference Four Years Makes

The only real nightmare is that Joyce and her slate win. Anything else would be a relief.

4 more years of the same ?

Nightmare? How about Ted wins and puts David Herron on the school board, the very guy who has sued our schools alleging racism because he doesn't like the grade his son received in math class.

You want to see a nightmare?

Michaelson and the rest of her Partnership slate wins except in the 2nd ward where Cary bucks the trend. He becomes this terms Ted Mattox, only without the anger and grandstanding.

It should be fun.

AHHHH!!!

Yes, mets2008, that would be a nightmare.

Sorry, brandnew, I'm for Joyce on this one.

"He becomes this terms Ted Mattox, only without the anger and grandstanding."

But doesn't vote no on paying the bills and is able to convice them to stop runaway spending and to make the town govenment more transparent and use input from the resident experts.

4 years in the future it is Cary running for mayor!

Consolidated Change slate?
K.? Roger Plawker

What does the K. stand for? "Kind of" on the Thrive slate and "Kind of" on the change slate.

Make your choice or disavow the Change slate. Is this the kind of politics we have to look forward to in the future 1st ward.

No thanks.

TED MATTOX for PAWS!!!!!

Vote Ted Mattox!!

Just Vote!

Just Vote!

Is there any candidate who wants to make the school board elected positions?

Maybe...Joyce is against elected (based on her specific comments), Fried seemed to indicate he was against elected (and I definitely remember Weller saying this), Mattox indicated he was for a referendum to determine if the majority of residents wanted an elected board. I think that is accurate based on the LWV debate.

Seriously folks - as a busy professional trying to scrape a living by in this overpriced town - and not a lot of time to educate myself at this point on the candidates and their platforms - is there anyplace online where one can quickly learn about them??

All I know at this point is that I don't want Michaelson or Mattox. Thanks.

Speaking of which, the LWV forum is on Channel 34 tonight. And from what I hear, this one actually has audio! (don't know if that's a good thing or a bad thing...)

The Truth:
Jerry Fried began as an independent candidate for at-large, switched to independent candidate for 3rd ward (Jerry Fried on the ballot against incumbant Jerry Freir - insanely funny) then ultimately joined up with Tobin/Weller team ALREADY IN PROGRESS. (at first glance Tobin/Weller seemed like an unlikely pair but have been working together for quite some time as members of the 1st ward Montclair Democratic County Committee)

Tobin was unable to garner town-wide support (and couldn't get any African American candidates on his team) then propped the well meaning yet inexperienced Fried up in the Mayoral position and fell back to the comfort of running for re-election in 1st ward. Tobin has been VEWWWY VEWWWY QUIET lately. Unity is hoping we forget that Tobin the "tax increase voting" incumbant is on their slate when it slams "the current council" in debates. Who's really running things? Who's the slick experienced status quo politician repackaging his slate as change?

The facts (also supported by town clerk and news articles):
November 17th
Jerry Fried will throw his hat into the ring for Montclair Township Councilor At-Large in the next election.

January 2nd
biking enthusiast Jerry Fried has announced that he would, for now, independently seek a first term as an at-large seat on the seven-member ruling body.

January 16th
Township Councilman Gerald Tobin has quietly picked up a candidate packet for Montclair mayor.

January 16th
Bike Montclair's Jerry Fried has thrown his cap in the ring to run for Montclair Councilor-at-Large in this year's election. Jerry, who says no slate is a good slate, is running independently.

January 16th
Residents who have picked up Township Council candidate packets

Mayor
Ted Mattox
Gerald Tobin

At-Large Council
Gary Walsh
Jerry Fried
Kathryn Weller

In the first ward, I like Roger Plawker the best. Why?

1) He is not Gerry Tobin. Tobin combines the spending habits of a drunken sailor with the efficiency of the Federal government.

$850k for Wayfaring signs? Absolutely!

Rebuild the burned out (and ridiculously under insured) Upper Montclair Train Station? Nothing there yet after 2 years, 3 months and counting! Way to look out for the 1st Ward Gerry!

With Tobin in office, you will be certain to get 4 more years of the poor budget management and a cozy relationship with current Township Manager, Joe Hartnett. No Thanks!!!

2) Rick Murnick was found guilty of a Security and Exchange Commission violation of intentionally overcharging investors, which led to a fine, suspension and censure. He then claimed that it was a "back office billing error". The SEC didn't see it that way as it fined his employer $1.4mm for intentionally overcharging clients on stock transactions.

Sorry, ethics are important to me. Next!!

3) I like Roger. He is smart, personable and is focused on the issues that I find important.

4) The only thing John Duh can find to slam about Roger is his first initial. Ooooooooo!!!

wrong topic, this info wes requested in another topic. still true however.

my info, not Spicoli's

Personally, I'd consider voting for Plawker--but only if he came clean about what the "K" in K. Roger Plawker stands for. Perhaps he's a student of the politician H Ross Perot? I just checked on his law firm website--no mention at all. I'm guessing it must stand for something truly horrible. I did notice on his firm's website that he fought in court against the development of Xanadu. Gotta give the guy big credit for that one. Still, I don't understand why there seems to be such a massive coverup about the initial K.

Mattox lied to Ed Remsen and the current council when he agreed to run with them 4 yrs ago. He also lied to all those who voted for him. He pretended he was a team player and more importantly a supporter of the schools.As soon as he had a chance to vote for the schools, he voted against, them, twice, as a member of the Brd of School Estimate which is why his fellow councilmen didn't want him to be on the BSE again. He did not honor his oath for executive sessions. He tried to destroy the Montclair Arts Council, a wonderful volunteer grp. He is against the MEDC which brings us the ever popular Farmer's Market and other business into town. He fooled people once, let's hope people won't be fooled again. Re the "truth" on elected vs appointed school brd-all candidates are supportive of a referendum but only the 2 intelligent and sincere mayoral candidates, Michaelson and Fried, remember that citizens voted no to an elected school brd twice already, and realize that the council has more control over school spending with a Brd of School Estimate model than with town-wide voting. BTW, Herron, Mattox' big supporter has wasted more taxpayer $ than anyone in town with constant frivolous lawsuits. Mattox, with a slate full of lawyers, is probably hoping to top him.

O.K. Roger Plawker

My bad. It is wrong to make fun of a mans first initial. I stand korrected.

What is also wrong is to pad ones resume.
From the Thrive Montclair website:

Plawker has coached baseball in the town league and plays for the Montclair YMCA traveling squash team. Plawker is also a Law Day volunteer, in which lawyers participate with Montclair High School and other Essex County high schools in conducting mock trials to educate students about the legal process.

Plawker Assistant Coaches one maybe two games of his son's baseball team.

Plawker registered as a Law Day volunteer but never actually participated.

O.K. Roger Plawker likes to play squash.

K. stands for "Kind of" did the things I put on my resume.

K. stands for "Kind of" think it would be neat to run for Town Council hope nobody notices I've never been involved with the town until one month before the election.

Kudos K. Roger, but I'll have Mr. Murnick and his years of community service for the town any day.

Klearly he may not have the intelligence of K. Roger but his proven track record with this town is on the record. Not padded.

A bit off topic, but...did anyone go to the Montclair Board of Ed meeting last night? What if anything was said or decided about the changes of principal at Watchung/Nishuane?

Murnick is a professional gambler that was fined and suspendedd by the SEC for bilking customers.

But worse, is he has that blank stare of Puddy from Seinfield like he has no idea what's going on around him. Like nobody is home.

The only thing that Murnick padded was his bank account, at the expense of his clients. And then he had lots of time to spend around town, ya know, when he was suspended from the securities industry. And now he has free time between his poker tournaments.

Plawker has spent his time being a successful attorney -working on cases involving ethics, rather than being a DEFENDANT in an ethics case.

If you're going to slime a neighbor get your facts straight. Mine are, no hyperbole.

Richard Murnich worked for a securities firm that overcharged clients on broker transactions. The rate as to which the brokers were to charge the clients was set from the top down. As a 28 year old broker Mr. Murnich charged the rate that the firm set.

His suspension was for three days, Michael Milken he's not.

He was never a DEFENDANT in an ethics case.

Do you kiss your children, the ones that go to school with Mr. Murnick's, with that mouth of yours?

More TK on K. Roger...

"But worse, is he has that blank stare of Puddy from Seinfield like he has no idea what's going on around him. Like nobody is home."

Leave Murnick alone. That blank stare is just him practicing his "poker face." For years, I just assumed he was really unfriendly. But when I heard the news that he was a professional poker player, I realized he was just in training. Now that he's running for office, I guess he's had to suspend his training for a few weeks, and he's now actually saying hello to the neighbors that for years he just ignored. I just hope all this campaigning doesn't throw off his poker game.

K = Kevin
Now, can you vote for him, or are you anti-Kevins?

If we can have a Fire Chief named Kevin, then K. Roger's my man, too.

Funny how the 5 regular posters with seemingly 100 pseudonyms manage to fling dirt, as the Queen keeps her hands clean. Her underlings and minions do her dirty work.
She claims she knows nothing about nothing. Reminiscent of Leona Helmsley to me. And look what happened to her...

Might have to call in my posse from Murray Hill and Turtle Bay to deal with this.
And here I am, thinking I moved to Mayberry.

Thanks Pippi. I guess I might as well take this moment to officially endorse Kevin Roger Plawker for First Ward Councilman. Call me crazy, but now that he's got this "first initial K" monkey off his back, I have a feeling Roger--I mean, Kevin--is gonna cream those other guys.

O' For those of us wanting change - which candidates are actually new to local government?

Clearly Mattox, Schlaeger old.
Murnick, Plawker, new.

Africk and Fried are new too.

"Murnick, Plawker, new."

TOO NEW!

Have they even been to one town council meeting?

Fried, Castor, Weller, Lewis new? Too new....never been to council meetings.

Don't worry, Tobin makes up for it as he is at all of the meetings!

Make up your minds, people. Do you want new or the same ol', same ol'?

Lewis

who is Lewis

Exactly!

I received a slew of old quotes in an e-mail from a new supporter of the CONSOLIDATED CHANGE slate. They thought it would be useful for the CHANGE argument. This quote reminds us of the nonsense of the last few years. Does anyone have a guess of the who, where, what, when, and why of this quote?

?The redress is in the voting booth, not the courtroom,? Ritter said. ?[MIPA is] complaining that it was a bonehead decision. They are not complaining that the procedure wasn?t followed.?

Another e-mail caught my interest even more. I?ll fill you in with that later. I?m waiting for a return e-mail asking for more detail from the sender.

Keep the e-mail tips coming.

thomas
pamphleteer76@gmail.com

Joyce's finance forms were posted today and show a large contribution from Richard Codey...$5000.

(SORRY FOR ALL BAD TYPE)

I received a slew of old quotes in an e-mail from a new supporter of the CONSOLIDATED CHANGE slate. They thought it would be useful for the CHANGE argument. This quote reminds us of the nonsense of the last few years. Does anyone have a guess of the who, where, what, when, and why of this quote?

"The redress is in the voting booth, not the courtroom," Ritter said. "[MIPA is] complaining that it was a bonehead decision. They are not complaining that the procedure wasn't followed."

Another e-mail caught my interest even more. I'll fill you in with that later. I'm waiting for a return e-mail asking for more detail from the sender.

Keep the e-mail tips coming.

thomas
pamphleteer76@gmail.com

Something to do with Martin Schwartz and MIPA suing over the Marlboro Inn..Ritter was the lawyer for Plofker.

Where were Joyce's finance forms posted? Can you please provide a URL?

http://www.elec.state.nj.us/

Public information tab, view a report.

"The redress is in the voting booth, not the courtroom,"

Something to do Monica Lewinsky, and how that whole ordeal might effect Hillary in her 2008 campaign?

Wait...her dress was blue. Maybe it has something to do with Christopher Court? Why did I have a hunch that this whole election would eventually boil down to Plofker and the Marlboro Inn. I guess I'm the only one who's just a bit more concerned about other pressing issues...like rising taxes, a bloated school system and rampant crime.

http://www.elec.state.nj.us/

I just checked this website out. I'm not that good at reading these things, but it appears that the Unity slate has rasied less than $300 so far, while Partnership and Thrive have both raised a little more than $35,000 each. Plus, it seems like Joyce Michaelson also has another committee that is just for her, in which she has raised an additional $20,000. As far as I can tell, she's the only candidate who is double dipping, so to speak. I'm just guessing, but if she works this hard to raise money during the campaign, think of how hard she'll work for the town if elected mayor!

Think of how hard she'll work to spend our money!

Think of how she treats her constituents- with distain!

...a hunch that this whole election would eventually boil down to Plofker and the Marlboro Inn. I guess I'm the only one who's just a bit more concerned about other pressing issues...

Right on - it is all about the Marlboro Inn. Where we learned who really counts and it's not the community. Bloated school board? symptom of the same problem. Rising taxes? Spend to benefit the benefactors (Michaelson raised how much?), Ineffective public services, same problem.

Whoever you pick, please please look for someone working for the benefit of the community, not the special relationships.