Republi-Can

If we can't beat 'em, join 'em.

by William J. O'Brien

In a few weeks, some Philadelphians will select the person who will likely be mayor of Philadelphia until 2017. Many thousands of their neighbors, however, will be shut out of the process.

Since 1951, Philadelphians have not chosen a Republican as mayor. This is not the result of weak candidates. The list of unsuccessful Republicans includes many well-qualified, well-known and hard-working candidates, including Thatcher Longstreth, James McDermott, Arlen Specter, Tom Foglietta, Frank Rizzo and Sam Katz. That list, however, will not include Tom Knox, Dwight Evans or Michael Nutter. Each of those three respectfully declined the opportunity to be the Republican candidate for mayor this year.

So what is a Philadelphia Republican to do? (See: anachronism, oxymoron) On the one hand, we can do nothing. Literally, nothing. There is no challenge on the Republican ballot this primary election. Each Republican who filed a nomination petition for a row office will be on the general election ballot in November. We can sit on our hands and allow our Democratic neighbors to choose Philadelphia's next mayor. On the other hand, we can flip. That's right, each of us can register as a Democrat by April 16 and, in the aggregate, Republicans will affect the choice for mayor of Philadelphia. You know ... if we can't beat them, let's spoil their party.

In 34 years as a registered Republican, I have been a staffer for the late Sen. H. John Heinz III, a Republican candidate for City Council (1991) and city controller (1997), and a member of the Republican State Committee (1998-2000). Despite that partisan record, I will resign my post as a Republican committeeman in the 21st Ward and register as a Democrat so I may vote for Michael Nutter in the Democratic primary.

For 15 years, Nutter served the residents of the city's largest and most diverse council district with distinction. Through that experience, he acquired an understanding of, and insight into, the city's operating departments — a priceless perspective for an urban mayor. As an attorney representing clients with diverse interests, I have observed Michael Nutter to be a hard-working problem solver who is personable, thoughtful and always prepared.

Of course, Philadelphia needs more than a well-qualified mayor. A hundred years ago, Philadelphia employment was concentrated in the factory and mill; now the big employers are our colleges and universities which supply a bustling, but portable, service industry. Fifty years ago, beyond the city's neighborhoods were quaint farms and small towns; now Philadelphia is surrounded by townships that boast better schools and safer streets. To succeed in this competitive environment, Philadelphia must have experienced legislators so it may receive a fair piece of the pie from both the commonwealth and the federal government. Now that both the Congress and the Pennsylvania General Assembly are held by a Democratic majority, Congressmen Brady and Fattah, and Representative Evans will be able to use their experience, skill and influence to benefit Philadelphia. It makes little sense to disassemble a seasoned legislative team that enjoys majority control in Harrisburg and in Washington, D.C.

Will switching my registration and voting in the Democratic primary make a difference? By itself, the act has no consequence. If other Philadelphia Republicans who share my frustration also switch and vote in the Democratic primary, it may. It was successful 20 years ago when thousands of Democrats flipped to select Frank Rizzo in the Republican primary. Of course, as the Republican candidate in 1987, Rizzo was defeated by the incumbent, Wilson Goode, in a relatively close election.

Here are the 2007 numbers: If the turnout in this contested primary is the same as the last contested primary (40 percent in 1999), then, this year about 300,000 persons will vote in the Democratic primary. With five candidates splitting the vote, the primary winner will have a plurality of about 85,000 votes. At this time, there are 155,000 registered Republicans in Philadelphia. If, in the next month, 16 percent of registered Republicans flip to vote in the Democratic primary, then about 25,000 persons, having no interest in the status quo, would likely affect the choice of mayor. Who knows, if a bunch of dusty, but feisty, Republicans elect the next mayor, the Phillies are a shoo-in this year.

William J. O'Brien is a Philadelphia attorney.