There have been lots of rumors about political slates shifting over the weekend — none of it confirmed — but a big piece of news just came in by email in the past few minutes: 2nd Ward councilor Cary Africk, who had picked up a packet to run for council, just announced that he will not run after all.
It had been rumored that he was about to join the Swenson-Susswein-Turner ticket.
Africk wrote:
After considerable thought, I have decided not to run for re-election on the Montclair Town Council.
Prior to serving on the council, I was involved in many local and regional volunteer efforts. I intend to continue this work, staying active within this great community.
A special thank you to the people of Montclair for giving me the privilege to serve them on the Council for the last four years. I have learned much, built stronger networks and have gained greater appreciation for the demands of public service.
Montclair has fantastic resources and wonderful people. There are many excellent candidates who are running for township council.
I have great faith in our mutual future!
First ward councilor Murnick, who is running on a slate led by Robert Jackson, was astonished. “I’m very shocked,” he said. “He’s been a dear friend. I was hoping we would have some political relationship in the future.”
Thank you Cary for your ongoing tireless good efforts, exceptional care and for all the good that you do for the community.
Cary, I look forward to your return to advocacy unfettered by the constraints of public office.
Say it isn’t so! The one voice of reason gone. I can’t blame you, but what a shame to see the one reasonable council member step aside.
Jaysus!
What’s ROC going to do now?
Cary,
Although I’m not happy about your decision, it is just another smart decision to go along with all of your other smart decisions made over the past three years on the Montclair Town council. We are all grateful for your service. I bet deep down, even ROC is too. Unfortunately, I fear for the next for years without your voice of common sense.
Cary, thank you for being one of the few municipal leaders to regularly use Baristanet to explain stuff going on behind the curtain and to post your honest opinions of some of the attendant political skullduggery in Our Fair Baristaville. Your transparency and outspokeness will be missed by those who read your posts. Maybe even RoC, too. Good luck in your future endeavors.
Wow! I don’t blame you–it’s a tiring and thankless task–but this is bad news for the town. Best of luck to you and (like Pat said) please keep sharing what you know and what you think (and keep distinguishing between the two).
This comes as a complete surprise, at least to me. And I’m a bit disappointed–Cary was absolutely the worst council member ever, except for all the others… However, I can imagine that it’s possible to contribute more without having the “power” of elected office–certainly with a lower hassle to effectiveness ratio.
I think we’re going to have to get ROC on meds, at least for a while, to get him over the grief (regardless of what the DSM-4 says).
I hope the light turned in your favor yesterday and you got the shot.
I am truly sorry that this has happened. I didn’t know how I would vote but I really thought that if we had one person in town that had the best interests of the people in mind, it was Cary. I have serious issues with many of the present members of the town council except maybe 1 or 2. Certainly not the Mayor but I thought that Cary tried to lead in a good way and in a good direction. May all go well Cary but we, the town of Montclair, will miss you as someone we can look to for trying to explain this crazy governing body of this town.
‘roo, I’d think we’d just go with the 318 Oppositional Defiant Disorder (subtext, “libertarian lunacy”).
Meds are not helpful with these cases.
But, they’re fun!
Cary, thanks for your many years of service to the people of Montclair.
The grind of public service is often unrecognized, but your contributions have made Montclair a better place in which to live. Or, maybe a less worse place than it would have been.
Hopefully you will continue to speak out on issues that concern you
This news leaves me very conflicted. Cary certainly meant well. Actually getting anything accomplished with the existing council and manager was, unfortunately, another matter.
I do hope that after the slates and candidates are firm that Cary will provide his thoughts and perhaps an endorsement.
But mostly thank you for providing a hint of sanity and class.
Looks like ROC won’t have Africk to kick around any more.
PS thank you Cary for all your hard work and devotion to the public good.
Not good news… Smart move personally though. Looks like we’re in for a bumpy ride. Depressing.
Well, according to The Montclair Times, our esteemed Deputy Mayor did just ask who would be “fool enough to want to sit here another four years”…”here” being the council dais. So maybe Cary decided he isn’t a fool.
Kathryn most certainly is, however, especially if she thinks being a part-time councilperson in Montclair, NJ is a difficult job. Can you imagine what she would think if she had to govern a city that actually had major crime and fiscal problems? Let’s hope for the sake of every other municipality in NJ that she stays here in town. No one else should have to deal with her, and I doubt enough Montclair voters are fool enough to send her back to the dais this May.
Nooooooooo! I’ll miss you, Cary, and thank you for your service and for attempting to rein in the Locos. May the road rise to meet you in your next endeavors!
Actively refuses to comply with majority’s requests or consensus supported rules. Performs deliberate actions to annoy others. Angry and resentful of others. Argues often. Blames others for his or her own mistakes. Has few or no friends or has lost friends. Is causing constant trouble at school. Spiteful or seeks revenge. Touchy or easily annoyed.
Crickey, cro, that describes every last one of us!
With the possible exception of kay.
pretend I’m the e Trade baby….This is my shocked face!
Cary
For what it’s worth, you were the only one of the existing council I would have voted for. I hope you can use your knowledge of where the bodies are buried (your phrase) to help help elect new leaders and help the town going forward.
This lamentable situation just became more so. Where else could Kathryn not be laughed out of town? This election will be a referendum on the intelligence of the Montclair voters. The definition of stupidity is doing the same thing repeatedly and expecting a different result.
This is really unfortunate news to start my day with. Cary has been outstanding in his job, especially in his communication, and I hoped to have the chance to vote for him as my next mayor. Of course he can’t be blamed for not wanting to deal anymore — and I’m grateful for his service during this term.
Cary, can you please be sure to endorse a ticket/candidates before the election? I’ll want to hear your perspective in advance of the election.
Thanks for all the hard work!
I wish Cary well in his future endeavors. Considering his community spirit, I’m sure he’ll find a way to contribute meaningfully to the town’s future.
Indeed it does, ‘roo, indeed it does.
Apparently the most admirably accessible of local politicians, and he will not run again? Very saddening. Even Montclair town politics must be a much rougher game than I’d naively imagined, because Cary Africk certa9nly struck me as someone who could handle “it.”
To paraphrase what someone in the crowd supposedly said when Sir Walter Rqlegh was beheaded, we have not such another head to lose from the Council. I salute the guy who reminded me of the old WABC deejay Herb Oscar Anderson. He certainly will be missed.
Thank you, dear Roo.
Deadeye, I think the DSM also thus defines “insanity”…!
Been known for 4 months that Cary wasn’t running. Yet, it’s amazing how many people profess shock at this “revalation” now. Especially, those who are so quick to coment on EVERY LITTLE THING that appears on Baristanet.