Sharon Robinson-Briggs

Councilman Adrian Mapp

PLAINFIELD - Pledging transparency in government, better city services and better advocacy for residents, Ward Three Councilman Adrian Mapp today formally announced his intention to challenge one-term Mayor Sharon Robinson-Briggs.

A former two-term member of the Plainfield City Council and former Union County Freeholder, Mapp won re-election to the council last year on a ticket with Annie McWIlliams, daughter of the late former Mayor Al McWilliams, whom Robinson-Briggs defeated four years ago.

"I had planned as far back as 2007 on running for Mayor," said Mapp, "but put that thought on the back burner after I was approached by residents about running for the Ward 3 seat. Folks were concerned that with the issues the country and the City were facing, a more experienced and pro-active presence was needed from the Third Ward."

Plainfield Mayor Sharon Robinson-Briggs

PLAINFIELD – Get it right in four years or you’re gone. 

That’s the message the voters consistently deliver in the Union County city of Plainfield, and looking at past results, most of their elected leaders get it wrong. 

In 125 years of political wrangling, only one mayor won reelection here. 

That was the late Al McWilliams, a self-professed New Democrat who in 2005 failed to get over a rising crime wave and lost his bid for a third term to machine Democrat Sharon Robinson-Briggs by 325 votes, 2,713 to 2,388.

Now Robinson-Briggs, 49, Plainfield’s first woman to serve as mayor, readies for her reelection campaign next year in what will likely be a hard fought Plainfield contest with once and future councilman Adrian Mapp, a McWilliams ally and now leader of the New Democrats, who’s energized by his successful return to local politics.

In Plainfield and Hillside, sources say two African-American women will be running for reelection to the mayor’s race next year, one with the backing of the Democratic Party and the other in opposition to the machine.    

First, in Hillside, sources say incumbent Mayor Karen McCoy Oliver and Union County Democratic Chair Charlotte DiFilippo will likely not make peace before next year’s May election.   

They’re both dug in on this one.    

DiFilippo lives in Hillside and has served as municipal party chair for 36 years. Oliver would be pursuing her third term in office.

Plainfield Mayor Sharon Robinson-Briggs today said she backs Sen. Frank Lautenberg. “Sen. Lautenberg is well respected and highly regarded in Plainfield," said Robinson Briggs in a statement. "He has fought for our community and our neighborhoods for a long time and that is why I am proud to support him in a primary."

Democratic mayors in Irvington and Plainfield have endorsed Frank Lautenberg for re-election to the U.S. Senate.

“Frank Lautenberg is a champion on the issues that matter most to us. Issues like health care, education, homeland security, transportation and the environment. I am proud to stand by his side in a primary,” said Wayne Smith, the Mayor of Irvington.

MAYOR CALLS FOR INVESTIGATION