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Council Special Election "Endorsements" are a HUGE step back
Submitted by Dan U-A on Fri, 09/01/2006 - 1:05pm.
Occasionally, YPP makes endorsements. Today, we are making a strong, strong anti-endorsement, of a type:
In no way, whatsoever, should the City Democratic Party install their cronies in City Council by "endorsing" them for a fall special election..
For those who do not know, if a special election is called, the Democratic Ward Leaders makes an "endorsement." I keep putting endorsement inside of quotes, because it is a misnomer. Their "endorsement" means that their candidate of choice goes on to the ballot as the Democrat. Which means, in all of the special elections, the candidate who will be elected who will be the machine backed, insider, who will promptly try and entrench themselves with the power of incumbency. This is fundamentally an undemocratic process, and will lead to City Council potentially getting worse in 2007, not better.
I know ward leaders are quasi elected. But, we have primaries for a reason: because especially in a one party town such as this, the voters, not the machine, should select candidates.
Progressive Groups around the City have similarly chimed in:
The city’s progressive leaders are calling on the heads of the Republican and Democratic party to avoid making any endorsement in the upcoming special election and instead allow voters, not ward leaders, to fill the vacant seats until regular council elections are held in November of 2007.
“In a city where 3 out of 4 people are registered Democrats, it’s completely unfair for a small group of ward leaders to decide for all of who us who will be on Council,” says Jennifer Murphy, chair of Philly for Change. “The backroom dealing going on to fill the Council vacancies make a lot of our members think that their vote doesn’t matter. And this kind of process makes me wonder why both parties are so scared of voters that they’d be willing to participate in a process that is inherently anti-democratic.”
PFC and NN sent a letter to the party leaders today asking that they create a more open process by refusing to make any endorsement at all. Without an endorsed Democratic or Republican candidate, contenders for the vacant seats would run as independents.
There is a strong change brewing in the City. But effectively installing ward candidates as Councilmembers and incumbents next May would be a really fast way to crush that. Mike Nutter's district, for example, has a number of potentially good candidates who could run for office. Instead, we will get Carol Campbell? Um, lets just say charitably that I think that is a pretty bad option.
And, I worry that these maneuvers will be just one more weapon that the Party wages against anyone who dares push for real change.
Let's forget about Council for a second, and think about another race that is near and dear to many of our hearts: The District Attorney race in 2009. Lynne Abraham may or may not be running for office again. But, one thing ol’ Lynne does not want, whether she runs or not,is for Seth Williams to win. So what is one the more common scenarios discussed? That at some point soon before the election, she will resign from office. At that point, the City’s Judges, also very much part of the machine (instead of ward leaders) appoint a temporary successor, who goes into the next election with a huge leg up: that of incumbency. In other words, Abraham may resign so that instead of a progressive, smart candidate, we are more likely to get a machine backed hack.
The voters, not the ward leaders, should decide the future of our City. Say no to Democratic Party “endorsements” for the Council special election.
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And
I know Caeitanus wrote a good piece on this already. Just thought I would chime in.
Dan--I couldn't agree more.
Dan--I couldn't agree more. In fact, the issue makes me so angry, I may have to leave work early today. I just cannot stop thinking about my analogy to installing bishops and the antiquated ward system we have. I do not doubt that ward leaders can be helpful and are useful. I do not believe, however, they are in a position to install their friends (and most likely themselves) into these positions of public trust. I can think of two potential candidates who have been convicted of something that involves dishonesty--and there is no one else to point this out!
There is something brewing, and the likes of Carol Campbell are concerned. Why wouldn't they be. There is a new generation of educated, active, concerned and enlightened Philadelphians banging at the door. We are smarter, we have experience and we actually care about policy. Right now, they are more organized. But, that is changing too.
lend your voice
be sure to come to philly for change's meeting on wed, september 6th at 7pm. we'll be discussing this special "election" and we've invited all of the potential candidates to address the crowd. several have confirmed their attendance. the meeting will be at Lucy's Hat Shop, 247 Market st.
Did I sleep through 9 weeks of my life again?
Check out the second headline from the Philly Public Record. Then enjoy the prose in the article including the deft use of the word "furled."
Holy crap. I am going to pos
Holy crap. I am going to post that.
Maybe votes to count like they used to
Its natural selection to bring in your buddy to take your place and do the same messed up job that they did when they were in office. Its only right ,right? Keep the same ol bull going in City Council, lets not bring in new blood downtown. New ideas, who needs that? As long as your buddy can at least show up to work, thats good for the city, right?
Junior Williams
juniorwililams007@earthlink.net
http://mycityscapephily.eponym.com/blog
Pathetic...politics as usual
Nice post.
After reminding myself who is currently on City Council, can't say that I'm surprised at politics as usual. I'd guess that 2/3rds or more easily are products of the ward system or had relatives that were.
When the choice is to be either an incumbent or be an electrician (snark), there is little wonder why they stick around.
Special Election
Many people are now criticizing Democratic CIty
Committee and to a certain extent labor, about
holding a special election. You should note that when
big city machines and labor picked candidates they
picked Franklin D. Roosevelt, Harry Truman, Adlai
Stevenson, John F. Kennedy, Lyndon Johnson and Hubert
Humphrey. Since then we got George Mcgovern, Jimmy
Carter, Michael Dukakis, Bill Clinton, Al Gore and
John Kerry. Which group of candidates was better for
more progressive and was better for
America and the Democratic Party?
Rendell on Maria this morning
My union AFSCME 1199c had a big party for Gov. Rendell this morning. All the local democratic heavies were in attendance. Quite a dog and pony show, especially considering the opposition (Swann). Really, couldn't Rendell and the supporting unions just save their money this time? Anyway, I got to pick Rendell's brain for a minute or two while the fluffers got the gladiator chariot polished.
I asked him about Maria Quinones-Sanchez hoping to get a reassurance about his support of Maria (he has declared his support for her on at least three occasions, once in front of thousands at the Dominican Festival). He informed me that Bob Brady will endorse Savage. He dismissed the idea of Sabatino running (Johnny Doc's guy) because "he doesn't even live in the district." I should point out that he did make it seem as if he were disappointed in the endorsement. I don't think that it neccesarily means he supports Maria despite is public comments to that effect in the past. Many in the Latino community now think of him as a supporter and it cost him nothing.