LUCKY GLENWOOD: Mega’s Mayoral Surprise

Mayor Mega? Say it ain’t so. WILL MEGA’s persona, combined with a little hard work and a lotta big ego, has carried him far through the years, but is he really mayoral material? Well, the answer may surprise you. Most politicos will line up behind MAYOR MICHAEL NUTTER; he may not be popular, but incumbents stick together. On the other hand, Mega, with the right strategy and campaign team, could reach the disgruntled voters, angry over waste, higher taxes and the City’s slow or no response to their issues. With the Mayor wanting to drop DROP, union support will be questionable at best (and don’t even mention that DC33 and 47 are still waiting for their turns at the table). Any other contenders? Better make yourselves known now, before Mega wraps this thing up. He’s a hungry young man!

The Philadelphia Inquirer’s recent article on legislators’ budgets seemed to be aimed at one person – DWIGHT EVANS. He and his friends enjoy eating at a scrumptious buffet provided by the public, while non-friends like ROSITA YOUNGBLOOD barely seem to eat at all. It seems although there may be some credence to the point of balancing out the budgets of all legislators and not picking and choosing favorites, our local paper of record may be going after Evans, a la VINCE FUMO. What gives? First, there was the piece on North By Northwest, and then there was the jazz-festival fiasco, now this. Oh, did I forget to mention the editorial page piece about WAMs that quoted Evans, too? What’s next? Hmmm.

Last week’s visit by PRESIDENT BILL CLINTON to help out our favorite Democrat for Governor, DAN ONORATO, had a Who’s Who list of invitees. Powerhouse Congressmen BOB BRADY and CHAKA FATTAH opened up the program, before running off to do double duty at the Comedy Night event. Attendees waited and waited, but it was worth the wait as Clinton, GOV. ED RENDELL and Onorato delivered the fiery get-out-the-vote message needed for a victory. Those who came out included DAVID L. COHEN, BERNIE SMALLEY, STATE SEN. VINCENT HUGHES, STATE REP. LOUISE WILLIAMS BISHOP, and WARD LEADERS JOHN O’CONNELL, WILLIE JORDAN, DONNA AUMENT, JOHN CONNELLY and JOHN SABATINA. Up-and-coming talent in Philadelphia politics was also represented by CINDY BASS, KAREN LEWIS, OBRA KERNODLE and STATE REPS. MIKE GERBER and JOSH SHAPIRO. It was a fun night all around!

   Send article as PDF