POLS ON THE STREET: Labor Splits Over Candidates In Philly Mayor’s Race

by Joe Shaheeli
Labor unions have been busy making endorsements, and with them contributions to those they are supporting. The Pennsylvania AFL-CIO selected its judicial candidates in a united front. The state’s largest labor organization representing over 800,000 union workers, the state AFL-CIO has endorsed Judges Kevin Dougherty, David Wecht, and Christine Donohue in the Democratic primary. They also picked Judge Robert J. Colville for Superior Court and Judge Todd Eagan for Commonwealth Court, also in the Democratic primary.

“In our judgment, these candidates are exceptionally qualified in applying equal justice and dignity for workers under the laws protecting the working families of Pennsylvania,” Pennsylvania AFL-CIO President Rick Bloomingdale said in announcing these endorsements. “Each has demonstrated an uncommon commitment to the values and principles of fairness and justice. We will work on their behalf, sharing their record of support and respect for the rights of working men and women,” Bloomingdale said.

“We have a historic opportunity to elect well-qualified candidates to the most-important courts in the Commonwealth. Their success will enable us to end the political gerrymandering that has disenfranchised millions of Pennsylvanians. The importance of electing these judges cannot be underscored enough,” Secretary-Treasurer Frank Snyder said. “Starting immediately, we will be working with our unions and our members to help elect our endorsed candidates,” Snyder added, who is also the statewide political director of the AFL-CIO.

The Pennsylvania AFL-CIO’s Executive Council also endorsed Sarah DelRicci, the Democratic candidate for the 170th State House seat in the special election to be held on Tuesday, Mar. 24.

On the local level, the Philadelphia Council of the AFL-CIO, representing 130,000 working men and women, endorsed Jim Kenney for Mayor.

“Jim Kenney is the right choice for Philadelphia. As a Councilman, he stood up time and again to defend working families on everything from prevailing wage to the right to organize. The son of a union firefighter from South Philadelphia, Jim has always focused on families in every neighborhood because he knows Philadelphia is not truly succeeding unless everyone is moving forward. We look forward to working with Jim to create a city where everyone has access to fair, safe working conditions and a living wage,” said Philadelphia AFL-CIO President Patrick J. Eiding.

Lobbying by Kenney supporter IBEW Local 98 leader John Dougherty was the effective force in getting the decision.

Another plus for Jim Kenney’s mayoral ambition was his endorsement by Philadelphia Federation of Teachers President Jerry Jordan. He said, “We need a Mayor who will not only fight for better schools, but safer neighborhoods and better job opportunities for all Philadelphia citizens. We believe Jim Kenney has the right combination of energy, passion and experience to help our city realize its full potential.”

To arrive at the endorsement, the PFT held a citywide referendum where educators at every public school cast ballots for their candidate of choice. PFT members selected Jim Kenney by a 3-to-1 margin.

Kenney also added an LGBT endorsement this past week, and took his campaign to the Latino community via an appearance on El Zol AM.

“I would like to thank PFT for considering endorsement of my candidacy for Mayor. I was honored to be considered. Great teachers make great schools and there’s no better advocate for great teachers than PFT,” said Kenney

Mayoral candidate Doug Oliver, who appeared before the PFT for consideration, still says he is committed to “Educating our children. It is the single most-important issue facing the future of our city. Much work remains to be done and, when elected as Mayor, I look forward to working with PFT and all other concerned parties to create a system that provides a quality education for all of our children.”

Mustafa Rashed, Oliver’s campaign chairman, added, “While disappointed that we didn’t gain PFT’s endorsement, we’re not surprised that the political process continues to march down the path of tradition. We remain undeterred in our mission to provide quality education to all children and look forward to working with PFT to make that happen. In the meantime, Doug Oliver is still seeking the support of thousands of committed Philadelphia educators who believe in a strong public school system.”

Kenney has lauded DA Seth Williams’ statement he will be prosecuting alleged cases of political corruption and charging, “Lynne Abraham routinely refused to prosecute political corruption in her nearly two decades as DA. As Mayor, I look forward to partnering with DA Williams so that corruption is never again ‘business as usual’ in Philadelphia.”

Abraham’s campaign hit that out of the political arena, saying, “DA Abraham’s office conducted both joint federal, state and local investigations of public corruption and also investigated public corruption by her office alone. The use of the District Attorney’s investigative grand jury uncovered allegations of public corruption in virtually every department of City Government.

Mayoral candidate Judge Nelson Díaz, at a Get Out The Vote Rally for him as hundreds packed the Casa De España to hear him, told 7th Council Dist. challenger Manny Morales, “You are my running mate!”

Diaz spoke eloquently – in English and Spanish – and gave credit to State Rep. Angel Cruz (D-Kensington) and Leslie Acosta (D-N. Phila.) for their work in and on behalf of the Latino community. “Manny Morales is the change the 7th Dist. needs, “said Díaz, adding he’s “proud to give his support” to Manny Morales, who is challenging incumbent Councilwoman Maria Quiñones Sánchez in the primary election May 19.

Díaz stressed the importance of unity and the ability to work together to get things done in the community. Several ward leaders, community groups and LUPE (Latinos United for Political Empowerment) were in the audience.

Morales was the Democratic Party-endorsed candidate, having received the overwhelming support of ward leaders at the 7th Council Dist. caucus held on Feb. 16. However, after pressure from Democratic Party Chairman Bob Brady, Morales requested Democratic City Committee to rescind its support of his candidacy and Díaz renounced his support of Morales as well. It remains to be seen how seriously the ward leaders who mutinied against Quiñones Sánchez will take this official lack of party backing. It is unlikely any of them will assist Quiñones Sánchez in any event.

Seeking her third term, Quiñones Sánchez said she is “outraged” at not getting the support of the ward leaders in her district. She fumed, “With no real discussion or debate, they gave Morales the endorsement. I admit I knew little of Manny Morales, since he has not been in Philadelphia long and has not been active in our community — not even the Puerto Rican community from which he comes. In my limited dealings with him, I have found him to be a bully, disrespectful of Democratic Party ideals/principles and ultra-conservative.”

She has put together a website blasting her opponent at confirmed and validated. Herein is a collection of his real thoughts, which she calls “extremely troubling”: www.MeetMannyMorales.com.

Harold James’ Leadership Is Challenged

Former State Rep. Harold James’ 36th Ward Democratic leadership is being challenged. A petition is asking for Democratic City Committee to recall him according “to bylaw Rule VII, Article 1, Section E.”

His indictment by DA Seth Williams puts his leadership position in a precarious position.

Said to be the challenger gathering strength is seasoned 36th Ward Committeeman George Upshaw. The signers are asking City Committee to strongly consider his involvement in a notorious sting operation.

Judge Powell Is Now A Democrat

Judge Kenneth Powell is well known around this city and loved by both Democratic and Republican leadership.

His tenure on the bench has been through a series of gubernatorial appointments supported by the leadership of both parties.

But now, in this primary leadership, voters will see Judge Ken Powell’s name on the Democratic ballot. He has switched his registration from Republican to Democrat. His reasons are listed in an ad elsewhere in this issue.

Isaiah Picks Up AFL-CIO Endorsement

Democratic City Council at-large candidate Isaiah Thomas is the only non-incumbent to receive the AFL-CIO’s endorsement for City Council at Large.

AFL-CIO President Patrick J. Eiding said, “Isaiah Thomas will bring his energy and dedication to public service to City Hall. We are proud to support such a dynamic candidate.”

Thomas stated, “I have received endorsements from many members of the labor community and am excited the AFL-CIO supports my candidacy.”

Thomas has endorsements from City Controller Alan Butkovitz, State Rep. Kevin Boyle (D-Northeast) and former State Rep. Tony Payton Jr.

Abraham Rejects “Dark Money”

Democratic mayoral candidate Lynne Abraham is proposing the “Philadelphia People’s Pledge” to keep outside spending from influencing the Democratic Party Primary for Mayor of Philadelphia.

The pledge was hand-delivered to the homes or offices of all the candidates who submitted signatures for the ballot. You can read the proposed pledge here: http://LynneAbraham.com/PeoplesPledge.

“Philadelphians want and deserve a clean election, free of ‘dark money,’ outside spending, or attempts to evade campaign-finance laws. ‘Pay to Play’ has no place in our city or in this election.

Abraham continued, “We must rescue our schools, create jobs, and reduce crime and poverty, but we cannot do any of those things if Super PACS and special interests are able to buy City Hall. Philadelphia is not for sale.”

This pledge grows in importance as some PACs are already endorsing candidates without truly identifying who and what they are.

Kenney Grills Abraham Over Tax Returns

Kenney 2015 Communications Dir. Lauren Hitt released the following statement on Lynne Abraham’s refusal to provide the Inquirer with her 2011 and 2012 tax returns as the newspaper requested of all mayoral candidates:

“Voters have a right to know what Lynne Abraham is hiding in her tax returns. We cannot afford a Mayor who holds herself or her politically connected friends to a different standard of accountability than the rest of Philadelphia.”

Mayoral barbs continued as Democratic mayoral candidate Nelson Díaz contrasted his consistent record of support for progressive reform with former Councilman Jim Kenney’s decisive votes against paid sick leave while on the Council and State Sen. Anthony Williams’ opposition to the very concept of paid sick leave.

“When push came to shove, Jim Kenney cast the decisive vote against paid sick leave, and Anthony Williams proposed a half-baked idea straight out of the Republican playbook,” said Diaz campaign spokesman Barry Caro. “This was a key test of whether they get it on progressive values, and it’s a test they flunked. Nelson Díaz, by contrast, has a consistent record of fighting for expanded opportunity for those in poverty throughout his career. He grew up an underprivileged kid in a disadvantaged community, so he knows how important it is for the working class to be able to take a day off if they’re sick without getting fired or losing a badly needed day’s pay.”

Fiorina, Rove And Day Will Be Here In June

Former Hewlett-Packard CEO Carly Fiorina, former White House Deputy Chief of Staff and Senior Advisor Karl Rove, and Republican National Committee Co-Chair Sharon Day are the first confirmed speakers for the 2015 Northeast Republican Leadership Conference, which will be taking place at the Sheraton Philadelphia Downtown Hotel from Jun. 18-20.

“We’re thrilled to have such esteemed Republicans Carly Fiorina, Karl Rove and Sharon Day speak at the Northeast Republican Leadership Conference,” Republican Party of Pennsylvania Chairman Rob Gleason said. “The Northeast Republican Leadership Conference is a chance to showcase the top potential candidates, elected officials and leaders of our Party to voters, and there’s no better location for such a great event than the birthplace of America.”

“I am looking forward to the opportunity to speak before our Party’s leaders and activists at the Northeast Republican Leadership Conference,” Fiorina said. “As someone who started as a secretary and rose to become the Chief Executive Officer of the world’s largest technology company, I am excited to share a story that could only happen in our great country.”

“Pennsylvania will play a critical role in electing the next President, and we need to provide Republican activists with the information they need to drive out the vote,” Rove said. “With less than a year to go before the first primary vote is cast in the 2016 presidential election, it’s important for Republicans to share their ideas and strategies at events such as the Northeast Republican Leadership Conference.”

“The Northeast Republican Leadership Conference is one of the premier party events of the year,” Sharon Day added. “PAGOP Chairman Rob Gleason and Republican National Committee members Bob Asher and Christine Toretti are working hard to growing our Party, and I’m excited to speak to our Party’s terrific activists.”

The three-day Northeast Republican Leadership Conference will take place at the Sheraton Philadelphia Downtown Hotel and feature speeches from top national Republicans. For ticket information, please visit http://www.2015leadership.gop.

Stephanie Singer’s Best Tactic Is to Go Deep Six

City Commissioner Stephanie Singer’s renominating petitions may be in jeopardy. She has failed to exceed the minimum signatures needed by at least double, which is an axiom when candidates finds they are targeted. Newly signed-on Finance Dir. Ernest Klepeis indicated during a web message soliciting funds, that her petitions have been contested.

If she survives the petition challenge, her best course is to deep six until the primary. If she pulls a good ballot position the name recognition she has built could kick in then to draw votes. If she insists on still passing herself as an innovator and as a leader in voter emancipation, she could unite her opposition under one strong candidate. That will surely end her career.

Gamble, Coney, Fernandez Hold Summit

Kenny Gamble, Asia Coney and Bumi Fernandez are big-name activists in the African American community. They each have substantial followings. They want to make sure candidates understand the needs of the African American community, especially those under the poverty level. With that they hold a political summit weekend, Apr. 11-12. Candidates will be asked to sign the Philadelphia Black Political Summit Agenda which addresses solutions to reduce poverty, improve education, curb violence and unemployment. For info go to www.blackpoliticalsummit.com.