Read the results of the latest Franklin & Marshall Keystone Poll for Mayor of Philadelphia.
The calendar shows that the next mayor of Philadelphia will be chosen on November 6, 2007, but in Philadelphia the identity of the next mayor will be decided on May 15, 2007 when the winner of the Democratic primary is known. The Republican Party in Philadelphia has never been in worse shape.
Until February of this year the Republican Party could not even find a candidate to run for mayor. That unenviable task has fallen to Al Taubenberger, the president of the Greater Northeast Chamber of Commerce. As of this writing Taubenberger still does not have a campaign Web Site.
The Democratic primary features seven candidates of which five are considered to be viable candidates. Two others Queena Bass and Jesus White are on the ballot, but not considered to be contenders.
The serious contenders to be the next Mayor of the City of Philadelphia are, in order of their appearance on the ballot: Robert A. Brady, Michael Nutter, Chaka Fattah, Dwight Evans and Thomas J. Knox.
These five candidates offer the voter a wide selection of candidates in terms of age, race, education, experience and, most importantly, positions on the issues. We have prepared profiles on each of the five candidates and their positions in their own words to help you in making your choice for the next mayor.
The Candidates
Robert Brady:"Bob" Brady at 62 offers the widest range of past experience. Brady currently serves in the U.S. House representing the First Congressional District of Pennsylvania. He also is the current Chairman of the Philadelphia Democratic Party. Read our Profile of Robert "Bob" Brady.
Michael Nutter:
Michael Nutter at 49 is the youngest of the five democratic candidates. Nutter has a background as an investment manager prior to serving 15 years representing Philadelphia’s Fourth District in City Council. Under Philadelphia's election law, Nutter was forced to resign his seat to run for Mayor. Read our Profile of Michael Nutter.
Chaka Fattah:
Chaka Fattah at 50 is, perhaps, the best known of the candidates. His political career has taken him from the Pennsylvania House and Senate to the floor of the U.S. House where he has, since 1995, represented the Second Congressional District of Pennsylvania. His wife is the highly visible Reneé Chenault-Fattah, a news broadcaster for NBC 10. Read our Profile of Chaka Fattah.
Dwight Evans:
Dwight Evans at 52, has served in the Pennsylvania House of Representatives from 1981 to the present. He represents the 203rd legislative district in Northwest Philadelphia. He serves on the boards of numerous Philadelphia institutions. Read our Profile of Dwight Evans.
Thomas J. Knox:
Tom Knox is the oldest of the candidates at 66 and the only candidate financing his entire campaign out of his own pocket. Knox has an extensive record in the private sector as a self-made businessman, with an estimated multimillion-dollar fortune. He previously served as Deputy Mayor for the Office of Management and Productivity under former Mayor Ed Rendell. Read our Profile of Thomas J. Knox.
The Issues:
The 2007 election finds the candidates faced with numerous serious issues and several crises which threaten the economic and social future of the City of Philadelphia. The key issues include:- Crime and Violence- The City's murder rate is soaring with each passing month. Much of the City's violent crime takes place in the more distressed areas of the City and much appears to be tied to drugs and possession of illegal firearms.
- Ethics in Government - The City has suffered from several episodes of scandal and illegal activity on the part of members of the current administration. The next mayor will be faced with the difficult task of cleaning-up City Hall and restoring citizens' faith in City Government.
- Education - With a few notable exceptions, the City's public school system remains a disgrace. While the major issue remains quality of education, recent episodes of crime in the schools shows that the entire system needs to be re-examined and addressed by the next administration which will be challenged to take back control of the City's public schools from the State.
- Taxation - While all seem to agree that City residents and small business owners face a burdensome and unfair tax burden, there is no clear solution to relieve the situation while still balancing the City's budget and providing the necessary services required by the City's residents and workers.
- Healthcare - Availability and affordability of quality healthcare is a national issue, but it also is a local issue. The next mayor will face difficult decisions in his effort to provide a better quality healthcare for all Philadelphians.
Polls taken in March show that no one candidate has captured the heart of majority of Democratic voters. All of the candidates remain in the race. The likely winner will likely be unknown until the votes are actually counted on May 15. As always in the City, the key will be which candidate does the best job of getting out their voters in what promises to be a close battle until the end.
Read the results of the latest Franklin & Marshall Keystone Poll for Mayor of Philadelphia.
