ELEPHANT CORNER: Republican Candidates Score Points In Debates

PUMPING Republican Phila. ticket was Lt. Gov. Jim Cawley at funder at Ward Leader Mike Cibik’s Society Hill villa. From left are Alberta Wilson, Cawley, Cibik, Monika Cibik, Controller candidate Terry Tracy and City Committee Chair John Taylor.

Tuesday night, Republican candidate for Philadelphia City Controller TERRY TRACY squared off against incumbent Democrat ALAN BUTKOVITZ on radio. DAVE DAVIES was the professional unbiased moderator. While that behavior by the media should be expected, as we saw in the presidential debates last year that is not always the case. Tracy, on message as usual, hammered the importance for the city government to become more fiscally responsible, transparent and efficient. Butkovitz defended his performance by noting the number of awards he received. Tracy pointed out Butkovitz should not be hanging awards on his wall, given that so many young people in Philadelphia are unable to hang high-school diplomas on their walls.

After the debate, many of the Republicans attendees wandered over to 1 Tippling Place, where LINDSAY DOERING sponsored an Eighth Ward social. Tracy lives in this ward. Attendees included some of the usual suspects, like COMMITTEEWOMAN BARBARA COXE. Visitors from outside the ward included West Philadelphia WARD LEADER MATT WOLFE and one-time candidate for US Congress (PA 2) STEWART BOLNO.

Last Sunday there was a televised debate between Republican candidate for District Attorney DAN ALVAREZ and incumbent Democrat SETH WILLIAMS. Newscaster LARRY KANE was the moderator; however, many were wondering if in fact he was a third candidate, as he was frequently rebutting Alvarez’s and to a lesser degree Williams’ comments. Williams emphasized the decrease in gun violence under his watch. He also noted the increase in legal actions against crooked and/or abusive police officers. I would be more inclined to credit the crackdown on bad cops to POLICE COMMISSIONER CHARLES RAMSEY, who clearly is willing to hold his officers responsible for bad acts.

Alvarez focused on the DA office’s failure to go after political corruption. Alvarez stated every dollar taken by corrupt politicians is a dollar less for schools and public safety. Williams attempted to justify his office’s failure to act on corruption by claiming they referred these cases to the US Attorneys and the Pennsylvania Attorney General’s office. I do hope he was not including the STATE SEN. VINCE FUMO case which was prosecuted by the US Attorney. I would think that now-CONGRESSMAN PATRICK MEEHAN, who initiated the Fumo investigation, would disagree the case was referred to him by then-Philadelphia DA LYNNE ABRAHAM. For someone who is more than likely to win in November, Williams took some petty pot shots at Alvarez. He hammered on the fact Alvarez has less experience as a prosecutor. Yes, Alvarez is younger. But Williams took it another step by stating he demoted Alvarez because of the time Alvarez spent in Municipal and Family Courts. Alvarez denied these courts and their cases are inferior to Common Pleas. He also noted this perceived punishment stemmed from his attempt to form a union.

Last Sunday, members of the herd went to the United Republican Club to watch the Eagles/Cowboys game. The game was disappointing as the Eagles played like Democrats.

Last Thursday, WARD LEADER MIKE CIBIK hosted a joint fundraiser at his home for Alvarez and Tracy. The event was well attended. The host committee included Republican City Committee Chairman STATE REP. JOHN TAYLOR, RCC GENERAL COUNSEL MIKE MEEHAN, WARD LEADER JIM DINTINO and RCC EXEC. DIR. JOE DeFELICE.

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