Fineprint

More story, less words.

by Morris Bracy IV

Flak Out

John Street knows he has four more years in office. Sam Katz knows he has four more years to decide whether he’ll run again.

But for their political hired guns, those poor souls who devoted every waking hour to ensure their man would make it into City Hall, questions about the future loom. Will they stay in the game, or did the mayoral rumble drive them out of the business for good?

Maureen Garrity, Katz's press secretary, is fielding a few public relations offers from private organizations that she wouldn't name. But, she's looking forward to "some time to air out after something [that] intense." She's sure of one thing though: Her next gig won't involve a political campaign.

"It was a great experience," she says, "but once is enough."

Nate Raab, Katz's deputy press secretary, also wants a little R&R. He describes his experience in bittersweet terms, saying, "I felt that Sam was the only chance this city had to get back on track. The experience was amazing, but the result was disappointing."

A University of Pennsylvania grad and West Philly native, Raab will remain in his hometown. "I want to make a difference in Philly," he says.

Street's camp shared the same conflicting sentiments of exhaustion and exhilaration. Communications director Mark Nevins, after working for numerous congressional campaigns through the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee in D.C., says this election was "much more grueling than ones before."

Nevins, who relocated to Philly from D.C. for the election, is in love with his loft on 17th and Callowhill and doesn't plan on leaving anytime soon. Without ruling out the possibility of campaigning again, he finds himself looking into corporate jobs even though "the work is not nearly as exciting, but at least I get my weekends off."

John Lisko, a communications assistant for Street, chipped his teeth as a tour manager for hometown band G. Love and Special Sauce after graduating from St. Joseph's Prep in 1998. Now, he plans on returning to Temple University to pursue a degree in elementary education after spending some time catching up with friends and family members.

Whatever tomorrow brings for these mercenaries and volunteers, part of them, as Raab says, will always be in the campaign that they put their hearts into.

"You leave a piece of yourself in the election," he tiredly confides.

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