Robert Jackson said it was time to get the economic engine of Montclair thrumming again, Harvey Susswein said it was time to be “smart” and not just “cheap,” and Karen Turner told the crowd that she is not, nor has she ever been a Republican. Thus spoke each of the three mayoral candidates this afternoon at a forum hosted by the Adult School of Montclair. Each was allotted exactly three minutes for remarks, as were the other council candidates present. Many included growing up in Montclair among their political bona fides.

Montclair 2012’s second ward candidate Robin Schlager emphasized her credentials as a school supporter and said she would unveil a “grass roots safe streets campaign” this coming week. Robert Russo, running as councilor-at-large on the same slate, emphasized the need to regionalized, and brought along a “Courage to Connect” handbook.

Fourth ward candidate Renee Baskerville, meanwhile, thanked the three slates in this year’s municipal election for not running a candidate against her, and she told a group of about 75 candidates, supporters and undecided voters that they shouldn’t hesitate to “break the slate” and vote for the best individuals.

Not everybody was having it though. “The fact that you’re born here is not enough for me,” said Robin Ehrlichman Woods, who hosts “The Buzz” on Channel 34, and said she hasn’t decided for sure who she will vote for. She added that it was “insulting” that a town “as diverse, multicultural and freethinking as Montclair” could not produce another candidate for the 4th ward to run against Baskerville.

22 replies on “Adult School, Library Host Political Meet-and-Greet”

  1. Who is the chubby guy explaining something to Fried? The mayor looks like he’s falling asleep.

  3. Fried is just being his usual arrogant self. That’s his normal position when he is not talking and actually has to listen to someone else.

  4. Why is there no one running against Baskerville? With 3 slates, none of them could have come up with somebody, or anybody, to run against her? No one???

  5. Oh come on you know who that is. The mayor always falls asleep or goes into the zone when he doesn’t hear the sound of his own voice.

  6. I am very sorry I was not able to attend. I was having a combination root canal / colonoscopy procedure that I just couldn’t postpone.

  7. Fourth ward candidate Renee Baskerville, meanwhile, thanked the three slates in this year’s municipal election for not running a candidate against her

    Like they did it because they love her so much. They did it because they’re afraid of her. “Thank you for your fear!”

  10. ….how unfortunate for the Fourth Ward….i wish that someone with good ideas would make themselves available…..

  11. Frankgg, it is a big loss for the 4th ward. That side of town needs someone with creativity and vision. It’s too close to GR to look the way it does.

  13. ….I love the Fourth Ward (I was born there) and its the part of town that is richest with history (not just because I was born there) Sarah Vaughn and Charles Follen McKimm rest in the cemetery there, as well as many other notables…

  15. frankgg, I’m sure you can appreciated the Siena, which was inspired by developer Brian Stolar’s trip to Italy. It’s a real updated version of Tuscany. Don’t you think?

    I can’t wait to see the CentreVerde. I hope it continues with the Tuscan theme.

  17. The Siena reminds me of the Palio of Siena. I lived near to Siena for several years in nearby Certaldo…to renovate a farm for friends. I could reach San Giminianno by bicycle….to go was 20 mins and the return was about an hour because it was all uphill. The highlight of my stay there was setting up my friends’ house to rent to Tony Blair. Blair liked the countryside and the house, so he returned. Sting lives there nearby at Poggibonsi. In “Chiantishire” (thats what you call that area when you’re a foreigner who lives there) there is the time of year that everyone starts buzzing about the Palio of Sienna. (the traditional horse race through the square) I can’t look at the Palio of Sienna. Those poor horses…. the palio is so violent that after the race, many of the horses have to be put down because of their brutal injuries. When you have a nice invitation to some princely piano nobile vantage point…. you see less of the cruel reality….but when the party is over… the streets are full of drunken people from the different teams fighting …and those poor horses….
    Its HORRIFYING…I just can’t look because it makes me nauseous.

    CentreVerde would be an appropriate name for a bottled salad dressing or a wholesale farmersmarket.

  18. And.. once more….
    The Montclair High School Civics and Government Institute will be hosting a community-wide mayoral debate.
    The debate will take place April 26 from 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. in the school’s LGI room.
    The focus of the debate will be on education in Montclair.
    It will be moderated by two high school seniors, Chris Murphy and Gabriella Peterson.
    Residents can submit questions for the candidates via email at cgidebate@gmail.com or Twitter @CGIdebate.

  20. Walleroo, Although we would LOVE to have questions tweeted in real time, we have already set the rules of debate and it was decided that we would collect questions in advance that the moderators will ask. (which can, of course, still be submitted – up until Tuesday 4/24).
    But, there will be an open Q&A session at the end of the debate.
    However, I like that idea and will be sure to include that in future events.
    Thanks.

  22. Walleroo,
    We prefer 2 days to allow our students to make sure that the questions are fair and that they are appropriate for a mayoral candidate to answer and for a student to ask. But if you are confused as to how we are running our debate, you are free to contact me at cgidebate@gmail.com and I can explain it to you.
    Thank you.

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