Stephens Loses Narrowly: Welcome to Another Era of the Machine

On Election Day, Bill Stephens, my choice for Mayor lost narrowly by 191 votes. I am absolutely sickened. There is a level of disgust in me that I cannot explain. I am sick, tired, and I hate how things have turned out. Part of me wishes I never got involved in this debacle. But I feel worst for Bill Stephens, who has gotten up every day to do good for Edison for the better part of two decades. And this is the gratitude he gets - Some newbie with a MIT degree, money in his wallet, loans from friends and amily, and as learned most recently, connections to John Lynch and his PAC, New Directions beats out Stephens' experience and loyalty.

I was at campaign headquarters the night we almost won. Stephens campaign headquarters is a meager one, no bigger than 20 X 80. And people were packed in like sardines. But it was festive. We were all family. No whites, no blacks, no browns, no asians, just Edisonians looking for a better day.

It was magic. At one point we were up by 800 votes. 800!

And then the districts predominantly populated by Asians began to be counted. Choi was suddenly up. A jubliant atmosphere suddenly turned confused. Key members of Stephens campaign began to confer. Slowly, the realization that Stephens was about to be narrowly defeated spread in the small room. Confusion turned to controlled disgust and anger. I saw people crying. Disgusting. I cannot say that word enough today.

I heard Choi was at the lush Pines Manor awaiting his ushering into the machine. But who cares. The guy is going to abandon us in no time. And I for one cannot wait to pull the old "I told you so" on Choi voters.

Now, Suleman Din wrote an excellent article a couple of days ago about Stephens' comment that Choi used the race card to win the election. I know Stephens, I know who he is, and I know how much he resents the machine, and how badly he wants to turn Edison around.

Stephens is a good man, who like me, was incredibly disappointed in the outcome of the election. Incredibly disappointed and sickened.

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