UPDATED 7:47 a.m.

Cary Africk’s endorsement of For Montclair Mayoral candidate Harvey Susswein was announced last night by the slate. But Africk added that he is not necessarily endorsing Susswein’s running mates.

“With regard to endorsements further than Harvey, there are any number of qualified candidates across all the slates,” Africk said. “With Harvey’s leadership in the center chair, I will have confidence in the future. I will need to hear more before any further formal endorsements.”
Africk, who has served as 2nd Ward Councilor for the past four years, had been rumored to be joining the Susswein ticket several months ago, when Susswein was aligned with Karen Turner and Chris Swenson. In January, Africk announced that he had decided not to run for reelection.

The statement quotes Susswein as saying, “I am deeply touched and appreciative of the very kind and supportive words Cary has put out in an open letter to the Montclair community. His advice and counsel have been invaluable to our campaign. We share many hopes and substantive goals for the future of the township. I trust that Cary will be there to assist our administration should we be elected to serve.”

Referring to Susswein in the letter, Africk is quoted as saying “after four years of ideological grandstanding and slogan-based government, doesn’t Montclair deserve a Mayor with the management skills and temperament to help us move forward as a community? Don’t we want a Mayor who will listen to all points of view and bring together the best and brightest in order to actually do the real work of the Township Council?”

11 replies on “Africk Endorses Susswein”

  7. Oh, Cary did endorse the entire slate. I just noticed the advertisement in the Montclair Times. I wish Cary and Harvey Susswein would give a better explanation for the strong Ed Remsen ties. I don’t know why they say there are no ties when there are facts to the contrary:

    “Susswein said that his “brain trust” includes former Mayor Ed Remsen and former Councilman Donald Zief. But Susswein denied that either one would be part of the Smart Government Montclair ticket.” — MONTCLAIR TIMES

    Maybe you missed that Ed Remsen donated $500 to Harvey’s campaign? Maybe you missed him at the For Montclair launch (I see you in the photo)? Maybe you missed all Remsen’s guys working on the campaign?

    SOURCES:
    https://www.northjersey.com/news/131731248_Come_what_May.html?page=all

    https://www.baristanetnew.wpengine.com/2012/03/for-montclair-slate-celebrates-at-open-house-kick-off/

    https://www.baristanetnew.wpengine.com/2011/10/martin-schwartz-the-remsen-crew-returns-from-the-dead/

    I crossed off Harvey Susswein because of his Ed Remsen ties. Remsen was a divisive force in Montclair and I can’t afford a comeback. There are still two great mayoral candidates to choose from.

  8. paine:
    Ed Remsen is a friend of mine and a supporter, but is not running. Intended guilt-by-association slurs are unattractive and diminish their speaker. I will pose to you the same question offered to Real Progress Montclair and others of your ilk. Can you point to any policy of mine or of For Montclair that you feel is compromised by association with former councilors? If so, we will be happy to discuss it. No one has yet responded with an example.

    Harvey Susswein

  9. Paine, you are 100% correct about the Susswein – Remsen ties. I am perplexed that Harvey would respond with the above question. I know several people who attended the Sunday meetings at Harvey’s home which are referenced in another interview piece and Ed Remsen was at those meetings and was a core figure in the conversations. It seems as though maybe Harvey isn’t being a loyal friend to Ed Remsen, his guilty by association analogy isn’t nice in my book. I would feel terribly offended if my friends ever felt a sense of guilty by association for our friendships.

    I have a question for Harvey – I heard a rumor that Ed Remsen will replace Marc Dashield as Township Manager should you be elected. I would like for you, Harvey to deny that rumor and state publicly that will ever happen if you are in fact elected.

  10. Dear Cary,

    I’m rooting for you and wish you the best of luck for the future. I worked my ass off to get you elected. I wish your four years could have turned out better. But I’m disappointed that you’ve become a shill for the For Montclair campaign.

    Your choice, Harvey Susswein, is pals with former Mayor Ed Remsen. That means something. Susswein, who I have spoken with, refers to Remsen as being part of his “brain trust.” His inclusion is an endorsement of the Ed Remsen years, which was good for his friends and bad for the rest of Montclair (where I am). You can’t include him in the “brain trust” and be against Remsen’s record. I don’t remember Susswein speaking up against any of these issues (my opinion):

    1. Farrell Building. My introduction to Ed Remsen (and Donald Zief). Works to not include the historic Farrell Building in the historic preservation zone. Boundary goes around building. Building is demolished by auto dealership. Dealership leaves town. Now a vacant lot. Dealership manager gets award from Remsen’s MEDC organization.

    2. Marlboro Inn debacle. Remsen went out of his way for Steven Plofker, a supporter. Ignored HPC vote to save Inn. Ignored statutes for selling to market buyer. Supported knockdown under premise Plofker would build hotel on Church Street (assisted living site). Never happening. Helped Plofker and Pinnacle developer split spoils of downtown.

    3. Siena debacle. Votes to give development rights to Steven Plofker on Church Street lot. Pays Pinnacle back, owner of lot, by overpaying developer to build parking deck by $2 million. Continued to pay back Pinnacle with parking benefits. A sweetheart PILOT deal with Pinnacle. A sweetheart legal fees deal with Glen Scotland’s firm, the ones who endorsed more debt. Poor PILOT collections.

    4. Orange Road parking deck. Montclair gets bad deal on PILOT contract. Dealership gets good deal. Dealership manager gets award for Remsen’s MEDC.

    5. Joe Hartnett debacle. Shouldn’t have to say anymore but never saw a bond issue he didn’t like. Over $135 million in new debt between 2000 and 2008. Retired with a nice pension.

    6. Massive tax increases

    7. Board of Education off limits

    8. Supported new Bullock School spending of $40 million ($80 million with interest), while even Hartnett advised against

    9. Justified demolition of Washington Street Y with rec center that never came

    10. Against shared serves with BOE

    11. Pre-K wink loan

    Harvey Susswein was active in town during these years. I didn’t see him chime in on any of these issues. He didn’t start speaking up until the Fried years.

    Ed Remsen is part of Harvey Susswein’s “brain trust.”

    I’m not into history repeating itself. We have great candidates. I’ll choose between Karen Turner and Robert Jackson.

    pamphleteer76@gmail.com

  11. Thank you Paine these are the historic truths that have lead to the current demise. None of these individuals who did such harm should be permitted to continue to operate. Ever again. Bad economic times (that they seem to have ignored with all of their past projects) will certainly work, even more, in their disfavor. They’ll ruin Montclair Center, once and for all, with their DCH project, Montclair will just be an undesirable place with lots of expensive properties for sale, that won’t sell easily because the taxes are way too high. We won’t even have eyes left to cry with. Elect individuals that have the vision of honesty and accountability, that know how to put their foot down.

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