Mayoral candidates face off in forums, debate

By Lisa Angelucci
Collegian Editor
April 18, 2007

If you haven’t registered to vote in the primaries in Philadelphia yet, it’s too late now because the deadline has passed. However, as the Democratic primary gets even closer, the candidates will all need to step up their campaigns in hopes of winning the party nomination. Pay close attention in the upcoming weeks as the candidates reveal more of their plans for the future of the city.

Mayoral Debate Unimpressive

A five-way mayoral debate was held Saturday, April 14. The one-hour debate was taped and broadcast on CBS-3 six hours after it finished. Many people are critical of the debate because the format did not actually allow the candidates to discuss any of the issues, and there was no exchange of ideas. Instead, the candidates each had a period of time to present pre-rehearsed statements of their plans for the city if elected.

There were no serious mistakes in the program, and the candidates mostly stuck to the same major points they have stressed throughout the race so far. Businessman Tom Knox received some criticism for seeming nervous, but continued to pledge to put an end to the corruption in City Hall. As he has said before, he’s too rich to be bought. State Representative Dwight Evans repeated that he would focus on the crime and violence in the city, saying: “I want Philadelphia to be the safest city in America.” Congressman Chaka Fattah argued that he was the candidate who would give the poorest residents of Philadelphia the attention they deserve.

It was Fattah’s concentration on the lower classes that won praise from political consultant Larry Ceisler.

“He knows where he wants to get his votes,” Ceisler said.

More debates with a similar format are scheduled.

Forum on the Arts

At what was one of several mayoral forums, four of the candidates joined together to discuss arts and culture at the Academy of Natural Sciences Sunday, April 15. All of the candidates expressed their support of the region’s arts endeavors, which is unsurprising considering the room was full of arts supporters.

Fattah, Knox, former City Council member Michael Nutter and Republican candidate Al Taubenberger participated in the forum. Taubenberger was only a partial participant. Evans and Congressman Bob Brady declined invitations to attend.

The candidates agreed that the city’s arts and culture are very important to the economy, but the question of funding was brought up. Currently, Philadelphia’s culture fund has about $2.1 million — a relatively small amount.

Nutter mentioned the possibility of restoring the city’s defunct Office of Arts and Culture, as well as arranging tax credits that would benefit arts organizations. Fattah suggested a regional tax as a possibility, and Knox also discussed tax credits.

Taubenberger didn’t get to say much, but stated that Philadelphia’s arts organizations are able to bring in more money than its sports teams.

Brady’s Safe Again

A three-judge Commonwealth Court panel ruled Friday, April 13 that Brady would once again stay on the ballot for the May 15 primary. The case was brought to the Commonwealth Court after a Luzerne County judge ruled in March that Brady could stay on the ballot despite incorrectly reporting his city pension. Voters backed by Knox had appealed that decision.

In the judges’ statement, they justified their decision because the rules about the information that must be disclosed do not explicitly state that contributions such as those Brady was receiving must be included on a candidate’s financial statement.

Brady’s challengers expressed their disappointment at this statement. Attorney Paul Rosen, who represents the city voters and Knox, believes it is scary for the court to interpret the law this way.

“The act is intended for full disclosure; the court is limiting disclosure. That, to me, is frightening,” Rosen said.

Tauben-who?

With all of the focus on the Democratic candidates, GOP candidate Taubenberger has fallen out of the spotlight. Or, perhaps, was never in it.

The Northeast Philadelphia businessman declared his candidacy in February, but since then we’ve heard little from him. With only $100 of campaign money, Taubenberger might be saving his strategies for after the Democratic primary.

While the winner of the May 15 primary will certainly be a heavy favorite in this election, that does not mean that Taubenberger will be a complete no-show. He has already participated in several of the mayoral forums, although he is often offered only a limited role.

Little has been said about Taubenberger, but he does get more credit than the two other candidates on the ballot, Democrats Queena Bass and Jesus White. Neither is considered to be a contender.

angeluccil1@lasalle.edu