Nutter Wins!

Last night Michael Nutter decisively won Philadelphia's Democratic mayoral primary, proving that an early endorsement from Ganymede's Ghost can go a long way. The Daily News has already put together a to-do list for him [since winning the general election will be a formality]. Did you just hear Sam Katz fart?

Huge Rasping Noise Heard As Democratic Machine Encounters Unexpected Resistance

In Philadelphia's fourth council district, from which the beloved Mike Nutter resigned to run for mayor [and Ganymede's Ghost is usually blogged], there is a tight three-way race between Carol Ann Campbell, Matt McClure, and Curtis Jones, Jr. Campbell is a giant cog the city's Democratic Machine and was installed by it after Nutter's resignation. She and her PACs are under investigation by the city's ethics board [and apparently not one single photo of her exists in which she does not appear extremely corrupt and contemptuous]. Jones seemed like a decent candidate who wanted to be perceived as following in Chaka Fattah's footsteps, but then he took a verbal swipe at McClure in the form of a [not even funny] race-class joke confusing Harvard University with Haverford Avenue [and implying that McClure, who happens to be white and not to have attended Harvard, would be unable to relate to constituents with differing skin colors and economic needs].

All these developments make it easy for Ganymede's Ghost to endorse Matt McClure for city council's fourth district. McClure is also the only candidate who has expressed any concern for the future of the Fairmount Park system, and I think he would be least likely to endorse raising taxes for any reason, a move that would drive the middle and working classes out of the city faster than they are already fleeing.

Nutter Takes Double-Digit Lead in Polls

I was very happy to see this on the front page of today's Inky. Apparently, an early endorsement from Ganymede's Ghost can help a lot. I'm also happy because my fellow citizens seem to be disregarding race during this election like they have never done previously.

Philly Mayor's Race Hots Up

What with all the murders, crumbling infrastructure, and regressive wage taxation, you might wonder why anyone still lives in the city of Philadelphia. Here's one reason: very entertaining local political theater. If this story turns out to be true [and not a cloaked attempt by one of the other candidates' operatives to take a swipe at Brady, which is entirely possible and wouldn't surprise me], it makes me feel better for not endorsing him in this previous post. If you live here and are still undecided, please consider voting for Michael Nutter for mayor.

Ganymede's Ghost Endorses Michael Nutter, Dwight Evans, and Tom Knox [in that order] for Philadelphia's Next Mayor

Many people believe that the Philadelphia mayoral election is usually decided in the Democratic primary and not the general election [because an overwhelming majority of us are Democrats]. That's why this debate taped last night is so important. Philadelphia's soaring gun violence was even the subject of one of the lead article's in yesterday's Old Gray Lady, which is embarrassing but at least focuses regional attention on an acute problem that needs much more attention than our current mayor is willing to give it. I live in Michael Nutter's former city council district and voted for him several times. He did an excellent job representing the diverse interests of his constituency, and he also played an instrumental role in legislation such as the antismoking and domestic partnership ordinances that have improved the quality of life for residents citywide. I believe he is the most intelligent candidate and has the most innovative ideas for fighting crime and improving the quality of life for all city residents. I think he will also do an excellent job of balancing city budgets while continuing to provide and improve vital services. Dwight Evans and Tom Knox would also be excellent mayors. And while I like and admire Chaka Fattah, I think he can do more good for Philadelphia in the United States Congress. Bob Brady wouldn't be a disaster of a mayor–I hope, but I think that he can also do more good for Philly in Congress.