Chaka Fattah, Challengers Have First Faceoff In University City

27TH WARD Leader Carol Jenkins moderates as Brian Sims makes his pitch – while two of his rivals, Dan Muroff and Chaka Fattah, study him.

Incumbent Congressman Chaka Fattah (D. Phila.) presented his case to 50 voters, alongside two of his challengers in the Apr. 26 primary: 9th Ward Leader Dan Muroff of Mt. Airy and State Rep. Brian Sims of Center City.

The strong turnout indicated interest in this unusual and closely watched contest. Normally Fattah, who has served in Congress for 24 years and is a high-ranking Democrat on the House Appropriations Committee, would be a shoo-in. But he faces trial on May 2 on federal racketeering charges involving millions of dollars. Last November, his son Chaka Jr. was convicted on different fraud charges – not a boost to his father’s brand.

In addition to Sims and Muroff, Lower Merion Township Commissioner Brian Gordon and State Rep. Dwight Evans (D-N. Phila.) have entered the race hoping to replace Fattah. They were no-shows in University City.

CONGRESSMAN Chaka Fattah

Sims entered politics as a civil-rights lawyer and stresses his experience fighting for the rights of women and minorities. He was the first openly gay politician to run for state office in Pennsylvania. He pitched the crowd briskly and confidently.

He promised to campaign aggressively for congressional legislation to establish limits on campaign contributions, which he thinks can be worded to get around the Supreme Court’s Citizens United ruling. He slammed the Trans-Pacific Partnership trade deal, which he said would place US workers on an uneven playing field. He reads the “well-regulated” clause of the 2nd Amendment literally to require professional training and discipline for all gun-owners.

WARD LEADER Dan Muroff

Muroff, also an attorney, spoke pensively and personally, telling the story of his addicted sister, who drifted into a life of crime and ultimately disappeared, scarring her family. The experience left him with an abiding passion to fight gun violence. He is a past president of CeaseFirePA.

In addition to combatting violence, Muroff said his key issues are environmental security (he has a professional background in the field) and community economic development, with a focus on small businesses (he cited his experience as president of E. Mt. Airy Neighbors). He too opposes the TPP and he said the USA should “use its vast fiduciary resources” to lead the world without being its policeman.

Fattah was calm and gracious. He stated forthrightly he is campaigning on his record. He has obtained millions of dollars in funding, especially for science – neuroscience in particular – much of which has been spent on West Philadelphia’s research institutions. Penn

50 VOTERS turned out for the 27th Ward Democrats’ Candidates Night. Big draw: the 2nd Congressional race, making W. Philly one of the political hot spots this year.

is the number-one recipient of NIH grants, he noted. He also found federal money to fund State gun-purchaser background checks and to buy back 10,000 guns from the streets Youth mentorship and access to college are also important causes to him.

Fattah maintained his innocence of all criminal accusations, ticking off numerous historical examples of other incumbents who were charged with felonies before an election – only to be exonerated after their defeat. For him to step down now, he said, would spoil a career in which he is in line to become the ranking Democrat on the powerful Appropriations Committee – a position of enormous potential benefit to Philadelphia.

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