POLS ON THE STREET: Philadelphia Mayoral Candidates Battle For Key Labor Endorsements

by Joe Shaheeli
This is a labor town! So political analysts use endorsements from organized labor as one of their ways of calculating the chances of candidates vying for the Democratic mayoral nomination on May 19.

So far, the big banner across the headquarters of Ed Coryell’s Metropolitan Regional Council of Carpenters, among the biggest unions in Pennsylvania, overlapping into other states, has pushed State Sen. Anthony Hardy Williams to the forefront. That endorsement was delivered to Williams, along with healthy checks from the Carpenters’ and Teamsters’ Unions.

Sheet Metal Workers Union Local 19 endorsed Williams early on and this last Saturday staged a major rally for him at its spacious hall on Columbus Boulevard with over 500 members attending.

Another major endorsement came from SEPTA’s largest union, Transport Workers Union Local 234, whose president, Willie Brown, said, “He’s a consensus-builder and problem-solver” – both attributes needed for a Mayor.

This past week Robert Heenan, business manager of International Union of Operating Engineers Local 542, announced his union’s endorsement of Williams. Heenan said, “After looking at all the candidates running for Mayor, it was clear to us that there was only one person who shared our values and has a record of getting things done for working people – Anthony Hardy Williams.” Heenan continued, “Tony understands in order to make our economy work for all families, we need to invest in every neighborhood in every part of the city. He has delivered time and again as we work to strengthen our infrastructure and our economy. We look forward to continuing to work with Anthony Williams as Mayor as we make Philadelphia’s economy globally competitive and deliver good jobs for working families.”

Local 542, affiliated with AFL-CIO, has represented the interests of working men and women of Eastern Pennsylvania and Delaware since 1935. Local 542 is a blend of heavy-equipment operators in the building and construction industry.

Councilman Jim Kenney’s late launching of his campaign for Mayor brought him the quick endorsement of Henry Nicholas’s Hospital Workers 1199C. Like Williams, his list also will continue to add endorsements.

Kenney’s entry is being credited to IBEW Local 98 leader John Dougherty, though that there has been no confirmation, since “banner watchers” report Dougherty still flies the Wolf banner across his headquarters, a block east of the Carpenters Union, and Kenney appears at all events hosted by friendly Dougherty pols.

Kenney has announced an impressive policy committee headed by Alba Martínez, reflecting much of the tenets sought by this city’s progressive elements. However, questions may arise about one of those that could cost the candidate wasted time in having to answer them. Of interest is Kenney’s launch of a campaign website, kenney2015.com. In addition to volunteer sign-up and supporter donation features, the site hosts pages for Philadelphians interested in Jim’s biography and issue positions as well as a blog covering developments on the campaign trail.

Green Believes Wolf Decision Challengeable

Gov. Tom Wolf must think he’s back in private business with some of his shoot-from-the-hip decision-making. He summarily announced his removal of Bill Green as Chairman of the School Reform Commission.

In rebuttal, Green stated, “I hold the office of Chair and the office of Commissioner; there is no vacancy in the Chair and no legal basis for another Commissioner to be named Chair. This is important: By limiting removal to cause, the SRC statute makes clear that Commissioners, once appointed, need to be free from political repercussions for their actions in office.”

Green is right in a way. The SRC members have the power to realign leadership, but didn’t. The SRC was set up in 2001 to oversee city public schools. It’s a five-member Commission. The Governor picks three for five-year terms and the Mayor two for four year terms. Green was named Chair by Gov. Tom Corbett to serve until 2019.

Wolf needs this fiasco like a hole in the head, especially since he’ll get little or no support from the Republican majority in the General Assembly, who will continue to turn a deaf ear to things Philadelphia and especially its School District woes.

Wolf’s appointee as Chairwoman, Marjorie Neff, widely heralded, and supported by Green, reportedly will continue the SRC policies pushed by Green and Superintendent William R. Hite. So who’s the winner? The Philadelphia Federation of Teachers hopes its side is.

In his haste, the Governor notified Green he was removed as Chairman of the Liquor Control Board, changing that embarrassment as soon as his staff was made aware of this goofup.

Wolf Makes PRPA Board Appointments

Gov. Tom Wolf’s appointments to the Philadelphia Regional Port Authority show his commitment to his own words: “The Port is vital to our economic success.”

He named Brandywine Realty Trust President and CEO Gerard Sweeney to the post of Chairman. In addition to Sweeney, Wolf has also selected six other board members including: Yassmin Gramian, the senior VP of HNTB; Robert J. Clark, Associate of Ballard Spahr; Michael Pearson, President of Union Packaging; Paul McNichol, partner of McNichol, Bryne, & Matlawski; John Skoutelas, VP and general counsel for the Eastern Group, Waste Management; and Local 98 Business Mgr. John Dougherty.

Evans Appointed To SEPTA Board

State Rep. Dwight Evans (D-N. Phila.) has been appointed by Gov. Tom Wolf to the board of directors of the five-county Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority.

“I thank the Governor for the appointment to SEPTA and I will strive to make it a 21^st-century transit system worthy of the citizens of Southeastern Pennsylvania,” Evans said. “As a long-time advocate for public transportation, I look forward to ensuring and bolstering SEPTA’s role as an economic linchpin for the region while providing safe and efficient transit services.”

Once sworn in, Evans will succeed Thomas Jay Ellis, a Philadelphia lawyer who represented former Gov. Tom Corbett on the 12-member board, which includes members representing Bucks, Chester, Delaware, Montgomery and Philadelphia Counties.

Evans, now in his 18^th term in the General Assembly, has worked extensively to secure dedicated, predictable and sufficient state revenues for mass transit throughout the commonwealth. In 1991, he helped establish the Public Transportation Assistance Fund, the first dedicated funding source for mass transit.

In 2005, Evans forged the establishment of a Transportation Funding & Reform Commission, an initiative adopted by former Gov. Ed Rendell that provided strategies to stabilize transit funding. Evans also worked strenuously for approval of Act 89 of 2013, which provided a comprehensive, statewide funding plan for transportation.

Does State GOP See A Future In Philly?

Republican Party of Pennsylvania Chairman Rob Gleason has announced Philadelphia will host the 2015 Northeast Republican Leadership Conference from Jun. 18 through Jun. 20.

“The Northeast Republican Leadership Conference will provide hundreds of American activists with the chance to hear from some of the top elected officials, candidates and Party officials in the country on the eve of one of the most important presidential elections in our nation’s history,” Gleason said. “We’re excited to celebrate the Republican Party in Pennsylvania in 2015 as we get ready to take back the White House in 2016.

“Pennsylvania is the proud home to incredible Republican leaders such as US Sen. Pat Toomey, 13 Republican Congressmen, and historic majorities in the State Senate and State House. In addition, the Keystone State is home to some of the finest party leaders in the country, including our Republican National Committeeman Bob Asher and Republican National Committeewoman Christine Toretti. The Northeast Republican Leadership Conference will celebrate our party’s terrific leaders at the national and state levels, while preparing our grassroots leaders to be successful during future election.”

Considered one of the premier political events of 2015, the Northeast Republican Leadership Conference will include speeches from potential 2016 presidential candidates, elected officials and top Party leaders as well as breakout sessions aimed at empowering Republican grassroots activists from across the country. The three-day Northeast Republican will be held at the Sheraton Downtown, 17^th & Race.

Katz Still Deliberating Mayoral Run As Indie?

Though preoccupied with his successful career as a producer of historical documentaries about Philadelphia, Sam Katz remains hooked to the world of Philly politics, as is the case with most candidates, successful or otherwise.

So his name keeps popping up, especially as the word continues to seep out the Feds are muddling through entanglements of several local political leaders involved with some of the city’s nonprofit organizations.

Highlighting this is the recent State House action to move legislation barring any more activity in any capacity by legislators involving nonprofits. It passed the House, with only one negative vote cast by State Rep. Curtis Thomas (D-N. Phila.). Senate passage seems likely as is the Governor’s signature.

This could materially embarrass some local Democratic leaders, fueling the belief an independent run by Sam Katz for Mayor would be welcome by many voters.

We don’t think he’ll take the bait and run. His phone number keeps ringing busy, day and night. So it is obviously off the hook.