POLS ON THE STREET: Party, Labor Unity Seen For Street

by Joe Shaheeli

3RD SENATORIAL Democratic Ward Leaders endorsed attorney Sharif Street, son of former Mayor John Street, who will run in April primary with blessings of retiring State Sen. Shirley Kitchen. Democratic Party Chairman and Congressman Bob Brady headed Democratic leadership at announcement.

It could have been a mini-Democratic Convention, a sight probably never seen before at the venerable Berean Institute Building, 19th & Girard. The occasion was the passage of power, much as was seen when former Councilwoman Marian Tasco announced her retirement and bequeathed her 9th Dist. seat to then-Representative, now Councilwoman Cherelle Parker.

This time it was two announcements by State Sen. Shirley Kitchen (D-N. Phila.), a woman who understood poverty, having lived it, and as she advanced in the political system, used her power to champion for the concerns of the poor and needy. Kitchen was retiring and in doing so proposed her successor should be attorney Sharif Street, the son of former Mayor John Street.

Normally there would be a flock of challengers, but those interested need only look around the packed hall to understand the power forces were committed early and solidly toward supporting Sen. Kitchen’s wish.

Beating the drums were Ryan N. Boyer, Laborers’ District Council business manager, whose union can proudly point to scores of officials they successfully supported in their election efforts.

Teamsters, Plumbers and building trades unions were in evidence, their leaders joining Boyer for a moment at the event. Also in the audience were Philadelphia developers and business leaders who were ready to help fund Street’s campaign.

Congressman and Democratic Chairman Bob Brady (D-Phila.) headed an array of ward leaders, State Representatives, Senators, and City elected officials. It was obvious Street had won the support of the ward leaders in the 5th Senatorial Dist. caucus.

CONGRESSMAN Chaka Fattah kicked off his reelection campaign with fundraiser in Pyramid Club, hosted by former Young Democrats leader Malik Boyd and former PHA FOP President Rodney Little.

Sharif presently has been an attorney on the staff of Sheriff Jewell Williams, also a ward leader in the district, but is expected to resign shortly to begin his campaign, which will be managed by Laborers’ Union Ken Washington, who is also recording secretary for the Philadelphia AFL-CIO Council.

Still, there is the strong possibility there will be challenges from at least two candidates, who have yet to declare formally.

Eyeing the seat is Emmanuel Bussie, a millennial IT professional with several years of experience in progressive activism dating back to Occupy Philadelphia. He could appeal to some in the Temple University community, along with Omar Woodard, a business professor at Temple with a good background in Philadelphia’s all-important health-care industry. In his recent résumé is a stint at State Sen. Anthony Williams’ (D-W. Phila.) policy director.

House Contests Hopping For March And April

A host of entry-level contenders for legislative seats will be busy this winter targeting March and April elections in West, North and Northwest Philadelphia.

Two State House seats whose occupants have recently resigned will be contested in a special election on Mar. 15.

Endorsed by the Democratic Party in former State Rep. Louise Williams Bishop’s 192nd Dist., which takes in Overbrook and Haddington with part of Wynnefield, is Lynwood Savage, a 34th Ward Committeeman Lynwood Savage who enjoys his Ward Leader Congressman Bob Brady’s (D-Phila.) favor. He will be challenged by Morgan Cephas, a staffer of 4th Dist. Councilman Curtis Jones, Jr., as well as Edwin Santana, who has taught at several schools in the district. So a tussle between Overbrook and Wynnefield may test the neighborhoods’ respective muscle.

In the 200th Dist., the seat State Rep. Cherelle Parker vacated to become City Councilwoman will see Party-endorsed Tonyelle Cook-Artis as favored. Cook-Artis was Parker’s community-services director, so she already knows all the players in Chestnut Hill, Mt. Airy and Cedarbrook. She will be challenged by teacher and entrepreneurship expert Chris Rabb, who has received the endorsement of Teamsters Local 830.

PENN PRESIDENT AMY GUTMANN; Vice President Joe Biden; and Dr. Francis Collins, head of National Institutes of Health, headed a panel of cancer-research experts meeting to discuss future efforts at finding a cure for cancer. Penn’s leadership in field of immunotherapy was one reason this university was selected for Biden’s launch of President Barack Obama’s initiative. Photo by Bonnie Squires

Party-endorsed candidates are prohibitive favorites in special elections, especially those which are scheduled in between major elections like the primary and the general. But the challengers are hoping to build recognition and position themselves for a second shot at the seat, in the Apr. 26 primary, when more voters turn out. So these are actually two elections rolled into one campaign.

Facing stiff primary opposition in her 190th Dist., centered on Mill Creek and taking in parts of Wynnefield, Mantua, Powelton Village, Cobbs Creek, Garden Court and Haddington, is State Rep. Vanessa Lowery Brown (D-W. Phila.) She is facing a criminal trial on charges of accepting bribes. She has chosen to fight for vindication in court, even though her contacts with scam artist Tyron Ali are said to have been extensive.

Smelling the blood is Movita Johnson-Harrell, a social worker with a long track record in special-needs housing – and also, sadly, in violent street crime, having lost a son Charles to homicide. She may be joined by Wanda Logan, a workforce-development professional who tackled Lowery Brown unsuccessfully in 2012; by Democratic 60th Ward Leader Greg Spearman; and by Darryl Thomas, proprietor of a barbershop in University City who had studied at Howard University and worked for the Dept. of Justice in the District of Columbia.

All these challengers are playing a long game. When four new faces go against an incumbent, they tend to split the “anti” vote and help the incumbent to walk home. Hoping Lowery Brown’s office will eventually be vacated under legal duress, they wish to make themselves known around her district.

In North Philadelphia, Democratic State Rep. Donna Bullock in the 195th Dist., which includes Fairmount, Brewerytown and Strawberry Mansion as well as part of Powelton Village, a staffer of Council President Darrell Clarke who won a special election last year, is seeking her first primary victory in April. Freshman State Reps are often seen as easier to knock off than long-established incumbents.

Sniffing at Bullock’s door are Judge Jimmie Moore, a veteran political negotiator with close ties to Ward Leader Frank Oliver, and Jamar Izzard, who stated, “I’m all in.” Izzard is a communications specialist for State Sen. Anthony Williams.

The 197th Dist., which takes in North Central with parts of S. Kensington, Hunting Park and Feltonville, may see an unusual dueling-Acostas contest. Freshman State Rep. Leslie Acosta will likely be tested by Orlando Acosta (no relation). There is precedent for an incumbent to lose when challenged by an opponent with the same last name – recall Councilman at Large Juan Ramos, who lost his reelection effort when Ben Ramos also sought an at-large seat, effectively splitting the “Ramos vote” in two. So much for fame! Should this race come to pass, expect Leslie Acosta to work her ward leaders to ensure their voters to know which Ramos is State Rep. Ramos on election day.

Republicans Eye Legislative Seats

Republican City Committee Exec. Dir. Joe DeFelice this week stated the GOP will target several legislative districts in this presidential year, noting the public feeling against the Democrats is “strong enough to be felt everywhere voters congregate.”

SAMPLE of crowd attending announcement of Movita Johnson Harrell, who is challenging incumbent State Rep. Vanessa Brown in 190th Legislative Dist. Democratic primary.

In addition to State Rep. and Party Chair John Taylor and State Rep. Martina White (both R-Northeast), two seats already slated by the incumbents, he announced Jim Pio is running for the 172nd Dist. James Jones will challenge the Democratic winner in the 2nd Congressional Dist. and Latryse McDowell will challenge the Democrat in the 200th Legislative Dist. Special Election. Latryse is planning a campaign event shortly. Khareif Williams will challenge State Rep. Dwight Evans (D-N. Phila.) in the 203rd Dist.

On the state level, the Republican Party last weekend endorsed John Brown as their candidate for Auditor General.

John serves as the Northampton County Executive, a position he won by defeating a Democratic incumbent who had a 4-1 fundraising advantage and a significant voter-registration advantage. John is the first Republican to win election as the Northampton County Executive since 1997.

The GOP state committee also endorsed State Senator John Rafferty for Attorney General, Berks County businessman Otto Voit for Treasurer and US Sen. Pat Toomey at its winter meeting at the Hershey Hotel.

Political Community Shares Rojas’ Sorrow

Philadelphia’s Wilfredo Rojas and his wife Aleida Garcia will mark the observance of their son Alejandro Rojas Garcia’s senseless murder Jan. 23, 2015 with a ceremony, which will be attended by many friends, family and members of the city’s political community.

The observance, this Saturday, will be held from 5 to 7:30 p.m. in the 4200 Block of Macalester Street in Feltonville. It is a continuing effort to encourage law enforcement, government officials and the private business sector to partner with families of murder victims and other stakeholders to come together in the search for viable solutions to the escalating problem of violence in and around the Philadelphia area.

AG Primary Fight Bucks Being Raised

GATHERED at InfinityX at Sports Complex to commemorate 72nd birthday of world heavyweight boxing champion Joe Frazier were Laborers chief Ryan N. Boyer, Councilman Kenyatta Johnson, Rev. Carlton Aiken, Ken Washington, Peter Lyde and Omar Sabir.

Northampton County District Attorney John Morganelli, who periodically writes opinion pieces for this newspaper, is a realist. He understands in campaigns, money talks. He’s been the DA since 1992. That is why he reported his Morganelli PAC Pa, formed last September, has $512,000 on hand.

John indicates he will be competitive in the primary race for Attorney General, which may see a crowded field challenging Kathleen Kane, who says she will seek reelection. Others waving flags are Allegheny County DA Stephen Zappala, David Fawcett and Montco Commissioner Josh Shapiro. Jack Stollsteimer dropped out of the race today.

Don’t People Realize All Politics Is Local?

Can a redistricted seat pose a problem for an incumbent? Testing that possibility will be one of two Republican Primary challengers Andrew Lewis and John DiSanto, who believe 15th Senatorial Dist. Democratic incumbent State Sen. Rob Teplitz (D-Dauphin) is now vulnerable. The redistricting changed some of the geography new to him, with more Republicans in the district now than when he won his race four years ago.

If he survives in the general, than we know for sure all politics is local because he did his homework well.

McGinty $$ Target Proves Disappointing

Katie McGinty and her campaign team are reportedly disappointed since they raised less than $1 million in the last three months of 2015, reaching $980,000.

In December, McGinty received holiday fundraising help from Senate Minority Leader Harry Reid. McGinty also received the backing of EMILY’s List.

McGinty also got a boost with an endorsement by Iron Workers Local Union 3, which represents over 1,800 iron workers across Western Pennsylvania.

“We believe Katie McGinty is the strongest candidate for Senate because of her commitment to protecting middle class and working families by creating good paying jobs and expanding access to job training and education,” said Greg Christy, business manager of Iron Workers Local Union 3.

McGinty’s campaign has gained significant momentum earning the endorsement of the labor organizations across the state, including the American Federation of Teachers Pennsylvania, International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers, Operating Engineers Local 542, Pennsylvania Association of Staff Nurses & Allied Trades, Amalgamated Transit Union, United Steelworkers, United Food & Commercial Workers Union Local 1776, and Sheet Metal Workers Local 19.

Commission on African & Caribbean Immigrant Affairs celebrated “African Diaspora” at City Council Caucus Room under leadership of Councilwoman Jannie Blackwell. Kilimandjaro restaurateur Youma Ba enjoyed hobnobbing with Mayor’s Dir of Policy Anjali Chainani and Deputy Dir. Of Immigrant Affairs Hani White. Photo by Wendell Douglas

While former Congressman Joe Sestak hasn’t announced his fundraising numbers yet, Sestak reported $2.4 million at the end of last quarter – that’s at least $1 million more than McGinty has on hand.

In meantime, Admiral and former Congressman Joe Sestak, who has been campaigning for a long time to win the Democratic nomination for US Senate, keeps walking and talking. He came to the defense of a sailor seen apologizing to Iranian captors. He said, “In no uncertain terms it would be absolutely unforgiveable for anyone to critique the young American sailor in the propaganda video released by Iran – especially if they had never served themselves.”

US Senate candidate and Braddock Mayor John Fetterman says he has Bernie Sanders’ “back” in his campaign for President.

“Bernie Sanders and I are not traditional, establishment candidates – and we don’t want to be,” Fetterman stated. “Bernie and I entered our respective races because we believe in the kind of politics that’s about standing up for people instead of catering to corporate influence. We represent everyday working people that have otherwise been disenfranchised from the political process by the millionaires and billionaires.”

Election-Board Workers Take Guilty Pleas

Three former Philadelphia election officials have pled guilty in Common Pleas Court to misdemeanor charges of violating the state’s election code and were each sentenced to one year of probation. Under a plea deal, felony fraud charges were dropped against Robin Trainor, 56; Laura Murtaugh, 57; and Cheryl Ali, also 57.

Trainor served as the judge of elections in Juniata Park’s 33rd Ward, 5th Division. Murtaugh was the minority election inspector in that division.

Ali served as a voting machine inspector in Point Breeze’s 36th Ward.

Assistant District Attorney Andrew Wellbrock said the three defendants will not be allowed to vote for four years. Any violation of the State’s Election Code disenfranchises a person for four years starting on the day of conviction, he said.

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