Campaign season is upon us - as we face the week before the election. It's a tough time for many organizations, and towns, when it comes to being open to candidates but not regarded as taking sides. This is one small town's experience - about a very charming walk - with a very sweet ending: ice cream!
A statewide initiative run by sitting Senator Cory Booker’s campaign has become popular, since Booker does a casual run/walk with residents, and always ends up at the local ice cream shop. All across the state, this has become a fun and lighthearted way to meet Senator Booker, with both Democrats and Republicans joining in the fun.
Caldwell councilman Ed Durkin, (D), said at the council meeting last Tuesday that he was very disappointed at a change of heart by the powers-that-be at Caldwell University to have Booker step off for his Caldwell walk on campus.
“They agreed to have Senator Booker start his walk on the campus,” Durkin said at the council meeting. “But then, after we made plans, they changed their mind.”
Have no fear; the walk is still on, and situated in downtown Caldwell Friday night, but the question begs to be answered: Why did the school change their mind?
If the university did not want to appear to take a partisan side, they did have other options, including inviting the Republican opposing candidate to join them too. Or, they could have said no from the beginning.
But the school spokesperson said this was all about following the rules - as a non-profit organization, and especially during an election year.
“When we were informed of the full nature of the event we decided as a 501c-3 organization, a non profit university, we had to adhere to restrictions concerning political events during an election time,” explained Colette Liddy, the Director Media Relations at Caldwell University.
Since this is "election time", it should be noted the university has a close and even financial relationship with the borough of Caldwell, and welcoming one political party might cause trouble. Caldwell University received honors, and a plaque and official "key to the city" aka Caldwell on September 20 from Caldwell Mayor Ann Dassing, herself a Caldwell University alumna, at their 75th anniversary celebration, where Caldwell University President Nancy Blattner said the Caldwell key symbolized the "strong relationship with people because we decided to make it so...(and) we are delighted to be a part of a college town." The university also is a partner in the shared-service Kiwanis Oval, a state-of-the art turf field located behind town hall in Caldwell, where students from not only the Caldwells but also the university play sports. As part of their relationship with Caldwell and West Caldwell, the university spent $75,000 for the field, which hosts both games and practices for their own popular baseball team.
In contrast to the reaction of Caldwell University, non-profit Montclair Adult School enjoyed a humorous and crowded event with students at their event on September 30, hosting both Senators Booker and Gillibrand. Of course, this was an event, and not just a starting point for a walk and/or campaign event, which might have lead some people to believe it was some kind of endorsement of one party.
Kean University also welcomed Booker to its campus, where he met with students a few days ago, to announce a joint partnership with Kean University and Union College with a $4.25 million grant for low income and Hispanic students studying science, engineering, technology and math.
What is also interesting in this turn of events is the prominent, multiple visits by sitting New Jersey Governor Chris Christie to Caldwell over the past two years. Christie, during his last visit to Caldwell, hosted a giant "town meeting", and was also running for office at the time of this last visit, at the Community Center in Caldwell. And, he happily posed for photos with the local (and eventually winning) Republican candidates for local office. So was this a "political" event or ....a "town hall" meeting? Or both?
The lines between campaigning and also serving as a sitting governor, or senator, will always blur during the election season.
The Christie event, both during the governor's campaign re-election time and also during his first major visit to Caldwell, was crowded with residents from all walks of life - and political parties.
Just as people from all walks of life and political parties showed up to see the Republican governor on town property, they will also show up for Democrat Booker, a senator who is often mentioned in the national press as a potential U.S. president one day.
If a sitting governor can meet on town property during his own campaign, what harm would it be for a sitting senator to welcome residents on a campus located in town - to kick off a casual, fun walk?
Or better yet, why not have him kick off his walk at a town location, like the Caldwell Community Center?
Does a non-profit school follow different guidelines than a municipality, which by the way is also a non-profit entity, when it comes to allowing sitting elected officials do walks or runs or town hall meetings? Shouldn't the rules apply to one and all, and not just some?
When it comes to election season, it is tricky for both candidates, sitting governors or senators or mayors or non-profit organizations or institutions.
Whether or not this was a political power play during a very heated Caldwell mayoral and council race, or a simple matter of a school truly just not wanting to make any errors in their non-profit status and rules, the casual walk through a small New Jersey downtown is still on.
Caldwell University was adamant that they did not mean to say yes and then no, but changed their minds when they learned, as Liddy stated, “the full scope” of the event.
As for me, I plan on enjoying my walk and non-partisan ice cream - and keeping true to my non-partisan writing, I think I’ll go with two flavors!
The Jersey Tomato Press does NOT make endorsements of candidates.
All flavors of politicians and ice-cream are treated equally.
