CITY HALL SAM: What Does Kenney’s Entry Do To Philadelphia Mayor’s Race?

It was an exciting week in the mayoral race. There have been some new twists and turns since COUNCIL PRESIDENT DARRELL CLARKE decided not to run.

Now well-liked COUNCILMAN JIM KENNEY has said he’s getting into the race.

Kenney’s entrance would likely be a deathblow to former DISTRICT ATTORNEY LYNNE ABRAHAM. He cuts directly into her base of support which is essentially ethnic whites and Jewish voters. He always runs strong in those demographics and is a fresher name on the ballot. Abraham has been somewhat out of the loop and is working on reestablishing her familiarity across the city. Kenney’s entrance also eliminates the reentry possibilities of ALAN BUTKOVITZ.

At the end of the day, Kenney is likely still a long shot to win and essentially helps the candidacy of STATE SEN. ANTHONY WILLIAMS. Williams has gradually moved closer to being perceived as the frontrunner. It remains to be seen if lightweight African American candidates such as MILTON STREET and JOHN OLIVER cause any real problems to that status. First those candidates have to actually announce.

So what factors influence Kenney’s decision to get into the race? Some speculate the departure of KEN TRUJILLO contributed to his thought process. But for the most part Trujillo was not a real contender in any way, shape or form. He was endorsed by ED RENDELL, but that’s about all he had going for him. He reportedly was willing to spend his own personal fortune; but look what happened to TOM KNOX several years ago: $10 million got him second place.

TOM WOLF did an above-average job at his inauguration speech. And the inaugural ball that was supposed to be “scaled down” was far better than the TOM CORBETT snoozefest of previous years.

Among those enjoying the party were JUDGE FAYE STACK, whose son MICHAEL was sworn in as a Lieutenant Governor, and TEESA DONNELLY and her husband ED. Ed Donnelly is related to the famous JAMES DONNELLY who helped build Roofers Union Local 30. Former oversea Italian SEN. AMATO BERARDI was seen hanging out with NINO & CAROL TINARI. Former STATE SEN. BOB ROVNER was seen talking to former STATE SEN. VINCE FUMO.

Northeast Ward Leaders in the 170th Legislative Dist. chose SARAH DelRICCI as their candidate to succeed now-CONGRESSMAN BRENDAN BOYLE. Tell Richie is a lovely and charismatic community activist. She owns a therapeutic riding farm in the Parkwood section of Philadelphia, where she specializes in connecting autistic children with riding horses. Her husband JOHN was thought to be the likely nominee but decided that Sarah would guarantee victory against a well-funded Republican woman candidate. Insiders believe the only way Sarah DelRicci has a challenge is if an independent candidacy takes Democratic votes away and gives them to the Republican. Otherwise the Democrat should have smooth sailing.

JOHN SABATINA, JR. was chosen to succeed former State Sen. and now Lt. Gov. Mike Stack. Although the ward leaders were divided on their choice of candidate, Sabatina won the nomination by over 60 divisions. FOP PRESIDENT JOHN McNESBY received a substantial number of votes but not anywhere near enough to win the nomination. Nonetheless, all the ward leaders who participated committed to work together to support the nominee. City Chairman CONGRESSMAN BOB BRADY was on hand to ensure unity.

Among the ward leaders participating were COUNCILMAN BOBBY HENON, MIKE McALEER, PAT PARKINSON, SHAWN DILLON, JOHN SABATINA, SR., CONNIE DOUGHERTY, LORI BEDNAREK, ALAN BUTKOVITZ and Mike Stack.