Is Nutter Better?
Yes, Nutter believes he is the true champion of change.
Running as part of the anti-establishment movement and denouncing the cronies and insiders that have occupied City Hall for the past seven and half years, mayoral candidate Michael Nutter presents himself as a reformer.
The only former city councilman of the lot, he is particularly savvy on issues pertaining to the city, which is clear when he expounds on his agenda at mayoral forums around town. Of course he should have an edge, having represented the 4th District for almost 15 years.
Nutter can be credited for initiating, and pushing forward, innovative ideas on City Council such as the smoking ban and campaign-finance reform. He has also been one of Mayor John Street's loudest critics over the years, which he uses now as one of his biggest campaign tools.
Yes, Nutter believes he is the true champion of change.
He makes a cameo appearance in Tigre Hill's documentary Shame of a City and has used the film as a vehicle for fundraisers four times during the past several months. (He has been successful in selling out the Black Box Theater at the Prince, which is on the second floor and is smaller than the main theater.)
Shame, which chronicles the twists and turns of the 2003 mayoral race between Street and Republican challenger Sam Katz, examines the "pay-to-play" culture in the city. Hill chronicles the discovery of "the bug," the ensuing indictments and convictions of Street's inner circle and employees. Nutter uses the film to illustrate what he believes is wrong with this city.
It should be noted, however, that Nutter fundraisers featuring the documentary have all been in Center City, not in any non-white, not-rich neighborhoods. Nutter comes across as witty and urbane with a dry sense of humor. He does like to party [News, "Cocktails With," Brian Hickey, Feb. 15, 2007], and he has captured the attention of reform groups and civic-minded citizens as the saving grace and catalyst for the city.
But has Nutter really broken from his establishment ways? To date, he has maintained his position as leader of the 52nd Ward and, in that role, is part of the whole party apparatus that he says he disdains. When he faults the concept of giving jobs to those beholden to the party, he, in fact, is criticizing the ward-leader and committee-person culture of which he is a member. Asked about this, Nutter says, "My work in the 52nd Ward is not created by the party apparatus. ... My ward was always open and I never charged people to get on the ballot."
Since ward leaders seem to stick together, there was a perception that Nutter supported fellow ward leader Carol Campbell in her 2003 quest for an $80,000 "consulting contract" in Sheriff John Green's office (a contract that Green later withdrew). Nutter says he never supported Campbell for any contract and that he had only received a call from Campbell about budget problems in the sheriff's office. And once Nutter announced for mayor, he declared that ward leaders should not handpick nominees for vacant City Council seats.
Nutter's base is primarily white, liberal, affluent Center City dwellers. His candidacy does not seem to be resonating with the black community. Critics say he is living in the past by rehashing the Street/Katz debacle while his supporters, like the Republican filmmaker Hill, defend Nutter's actions by saying, "what is past is prologue."
Despite being against raising campaign-finance limits, Nutter apparently has raised enough money to begin airing commercials very soon.
Driving Back to the Hall?
Former Councilman at-large Angel Ortiz who, in the midst of his driving-while-not-licensed scandal lost a re-election bid in the 2003 Democratic primaries, may run as an independent for a City Council at-large seat.
He must submit his petitions in October. The city charter mandates that at least two of the seven at-large seats must fall to a minority party. Ortiz had originally considered running for Democratic mayoral candidate Bob Brady's congressional seat, should Brady win as mayor.
Ortiz attended the wedding celebration of Renee Gilinger and Michael Marsico at Pure nightclub Saturday night and was hobnobbing with old friend and former state House member Ben Ramos. Ramos is running for an-large council seat in the Democratic primary. Gilinger, former state director for Liberty PA, is now campaign manager for city Councilman Frank DiCicco. Formerly co-chairs of the Liberty City Lesbian and Gay Democratic Club, Gilinger and Marsico broke new ground for the club with their marriage last November by Common Pleas Court Judge Ann Butchart.
Also In This Week's News Section
The Bell Curve
First the Snakes, Now This?
Ask A Candidate
Comments
Be the first to comment on this article.