Grassroots Group Declare Endorsements for Morristown Primaries

The June 4 Primary Election day is upon us. Incumbents Michelle Dupree Harris, council president, Toshiba Foster and Michael Elms are being challenged by fellow Dems Michael Pooler, a planning board member, Jessica Williamson, a member of the environmental commission, and Tom Alexander, a former housing inspector. 

No Republicans filed to run for office. Independent candidates have until primary day to file to make the November ballot. 

Back in April,

Christine Conti-Collins, Christopher Martin, Erika Rangel, Helen Arnold, Keith Bodden, John Tate and Pablo E. Garita announced on Thursday the launch of their organization, We Are United and Organized (UNO). They join other community leaders from across the county.

On Friday, UNO announced the endorsement of a slate of Democratic Candidates for Morristown Council in the June 4 Primary Election.

We are United and Organized (UNO) endorses publicly the following candidates for Morristown:

• Thomas Alexander – Democrat for Council at Large
• Michael Pooler – Democrat for Council at Large
• Jessica Williamson - Democrat for Council at Large

In a release sent out by UNO, it said that the has been conducting extensive research of public government records since February 2013, and believe Morristown needs council members who exercise real legislative control and bring ideas to improve Morristown that not attached to shadowy special interests.

“Alexander , Pooler & Williamson are not tied to law firms, special interests and developers that only care about their pockets and not the well being of everyone in Morristown. They will be the voice in the Council for the disenfranchised in Morristown.” said Edward Correa – Chair of the United and Organized. “This ticket will restore good and ethical governance and will bring much needed change to the decision making process in Morristown.” 

An extensive analysis of Public Records shows that during the last seven years (2007 thru February of 2013) Morristown paid more than 5 million Dollars in legal fees to various law firms and lawyers.   2.1 million was paid during the Dougherty Administration (2010 thru February of 2013) despite creating the $95 thousand salaried position of Director of Legal Counsel in 2010, according to their press release.

“The current administration makes no attempt to be judicious with its budget and by association taxpayers’ dollars, when it comes to keeping certain outside lawyers and their firms well employed while the taxpayer foots the bill.” said Christine Conti-Collins – Morristown member of UNO.

The mission of We are UNO is to unite, organize, educate, and mobilize our communities to advocate for a better and just society.  

A membership-based grassroots organization, UNO is developing and implementing the following projects to address issues of concern at the local level:

• The Real Open Government Project
• The Community Academy for Ethical Leadership
• The New Americans Project
• The Equal Justice for All Project
• The Housing Project
• The Organizing Priorities Project

For more information about We are UNO, please contact Edward Correa at 973-723 4945 or via email at edcolo@aol.com.