2007 mayoral campaign underway in Philadelphia

By Taylor-Lynn Capaldo
Collegian Staff
February 14, 2007

It’s only February of 2007, and it seems as if the American people can’t get enough of the 2008 presidential race. As each week passes, it seems as if another politician is announcing his or her plan to compete in the Republican or Democratic primary, and politicians are not wasting any time in getting their names out to the media. Although we can sometimes get caught up in these early stages of the presidential race, it is important not to overlook another political battle that’s a bit closer to home, the Philadelphia mayoral election, which will take place this November.

With the primary elections only a few months away in May, Philadelphians have quite a selection of gentlemen to chose from, each one eager to take the place of current mayor, John Street. As the primary date approaches, even more politicians are looking to jump on board. U.S. Representative Bob Brady just recently announced his campaign run Jan. 25, and has been endorsed by the city’s Democratic organization, of which he is the chairman.

Running against Brady for the Democratic nomination are State Representative Dwight Evans, former City Councilman Michael Nutter, State Representative Chaka Fattah and businessman and multimillionaire Tom Knox. With five Democrats competing for the votes in the primaries, Republicans have struggled to find a candidate for their own party. Al Taubenberger, president of the Greater Northeast Philadelphia Chamber of Commerce, has been in talks with the city’s Republican officials since last Tuesday, and officially announced his run for mayor on Feb. 8.

According to the Philadelphia Inquirer, the city’s registered Democrats outnumber its Republicans 5-1, and there hasn’t been a Republican elected as mayor in nearly 60 years. Taubenberger reportedly only has $100 to put toward his campaign. Although his chances are slim in this overwhelmingly Democratic city, what’s any political race without a Republican candidate?

All of the candidates involved in the race are focusing on similar issues that are important to the city, many of which city residents feel have been overlooked by Mayor Street throughout his tenure. The major issues include crime and violence, education, quality housing, economic development, public health and safety and lowering taxes. Each candidate has his own plan on how to attack the issues that are most important not only to himself, but to all of the citizens of Philadelphia.

Brady plans to make our streets safer by adding another 1000 police officers to the city streets and keeping a focus on areas surrounding the city’s schools. A former blue-collar carpenter, Brady has worked his way up from nearly rock bottom and has focused on issues surrounding not only Philadelphia, but other areas of the state as well.

Evans, a La Salle alum who hails from nearby West Oak Lane, plans to focus on community development through the implementation of more charter schools, beautification commissions and the creation of youth programs in some of the city’s struggling neighborhoods. He has already made improvements in his own neighborhood, with the opening of Ogontz Grill, made possible by the help of Ogontz Avenue Revitalization Group.

Knox is known mostly for the funding of his campaign, most of which is self-supported. Knox recently poured over $5 million of his own money into his campaign, which has become the largest amount of money contributed to a political campaign in Philadelphia history. Knox’s main goal for Philly is to focus on the city’s financial stability and to build up from there. \

Nutter, who was a city councilman in the Fourth District for 14 years, is hoping to use his past Philadelphia political experience to help “clean up” the city’s politics by implementing codes of ethics in the way our city is governed. He has been active in the passing of the smoking ban and plans to cut taxes, fight the city’s corruption and get more Philadelphia residents to attend and finish college.

Although it is still early in the race, it seems as if each of the candidates is ready for a tough competition. As the months progress, it is safe to say that more issues will come out on the table, as well as the possibility of slander and scandals. The most important issue to face in the meantime, however, is educating the public to get out to the polls, both May 15 for the primary and Nov. 6 for the municipal general election.

capaldot1@lasalle.edu