POLS ON THE STREET: Butkovitz Out Of The Race; Bon Jovi In On Race Relations

CITY CONTROLLER ALAN BUTKOVITZ surprised everyone by announcing he will not run for Mayor of Philadelphia in the upcoming Democratic primary. Butkovitz for months had been planning such a run. In fact, word on the street was that he would announce this week that he was an official candidate and resign as City Controller. But things change.

Some speculate that this means DARRELL CLARKE, President of City Council, will run. The reason: He is backed substantially by Electricians Local 98 and there is no room in the race for more than one such candidate.

KEN TRUJILLO has committed to spend $2-$3 million of his own money in the primary. This is a large number for party Democrats. It’s been done before, but without success.

In fact, businessman TOM KNOX spent $10 million in a losing effort. Some of his negative attack ads helped propel MIKE NUTTER from fifth to first because they savaged CONGRESSMAN BOB BRADY or CONGRESSMAN CHAKA FATTAH and cleared the way for Nutter.

The aforementioned Michael Nutter introduced JON BON JOVI, this year’s winner of the Marian Anderson award. MARIAN ANDERSON was the iconic young Philadelphia opera singer who sang “God Bless America” at the Lincoln Memorial in 1939. She was a pioneer for civil rights and equality before the actual civil-rights movement. Bon Jovi was honored at the Kimmel Center for his work with project home. He was also saluted by SISTER MARY SCULLION, who inspired him to the cause of those in need.

New Jersey SEN. CORY BOOKER also made an inspiring speech saluting Bon Jovi, calling his work “a sacred effort.” Those were the words of FREDERICK DOUGLASS commenting on one of ABRAHAM LINCOLN’S most-important speeches.

NINA TINARI is the chair of the Marian Anderson board and presented the award to Bon Jovi. Also on the board and in attendance were the lovely CAROL TINARI and her distinguished husband NINO. The beautiful TONYA STACK accompanied the Tinaris, MNutter and Bon Jovi in watching the benefit concert. Also on hand were STATE SEN. ANTHONY HARDY WILLIAMS and his wife SHARI, COUNCILWOMAN BLONDELL REYNOLDS BROWN, COUNCILMAN KENYATTA JOHNSON and his wife DAWN, STATE SEN. LARRY FARNESE, STATE REP. CHERELLE PARKER and Councilman Darrell Clarke.

As usual, former STATE SEN. BOB ROVNER worked the room relentlessly. Among the entertainers in attendance were the “GEETER” JERRY BLAVAT and PAUL ANKA. Phillies VP MICHAEL STILES and Comcast bigwig DAVID L. COHEN hobnobbed with Temple Board Member MITCH MORGAN. Prominent labor leader GARY MASINO took a table and was joined by MIKE GUINAN and other members of the highly regarded Sheet Metal Workers Union.

WANDA SYKES took a little shot at Mayor Nutter for his advocacy for decriminalization of marijuana. It is amusing to imagine the button-down Mayor and not Wanda Sykes being so liberal on marijuana.

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