On Monday night, Michael Nutter did something beautiful for the city of Philadelphia.

He showed the entire city what it means to be a public servant. - to stand up for what you believe.
He showed the entire city what it means to put the needs of the public before your own career.  
And the city will never be the same again.

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Let me back up.

For the last fifteen years, Michael Nutter has been an independent Dem, surviving on the margin of the political machine. He fought his way in, by knocking out a machine candidate, and was able to survive
there ONLY BECAUSE he had the protection of only one person: Carol Campbell. He and his wacky ideas about public policy were allowed into the club because of this one friend.

Of course it was shit when he got there. He would write all this beautiful legislation and then watch as council vetoed it all. He watched other council members fall asleep on the job. Some didn't read
the bills that were before them – they didn't care how they would affect the city, only the financial interests of the people who were backing them. Michael had to fight like hell to make any progress at
all. He did that for 15 years. Which is half my life. I can only imagine how frustrating that must have been.

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Think about fifteen years representing the same council district. You see the trees grow.
You see the houses change – the schools open or close – you see the
babies of your first year in office now sophomores in high school.

It's a sense of ownership. You know every inch of the land, the problems of the people there, which cracks are to be filled in and which cracks make things better. Michael Nutter, when he decided to leave his office to run for mayor, was essentially abandoning his child to the Democratic Party. And hoping that it would be safe in their hands.

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After the candidate forum on Sept 4., a lot of people really didn't grasp the fact that Bob Brady was really going to replace one of the best city councilmembers the city has ever had with someone who has
been described to me by multiple pols as "pure evil."

I think our candidate forum must have made it real for people, because it really stirred up a huge public outcry.
One of the more impassionate posts/emails that was sent to me and others read in part:

"We the people from Roxborough, Andorra, Manayunk, Wissahickon and
East Falls are extremely upset with the Democratic Party for them even
considering appointing Carol Campbell to replace Michael Nutter as our
councilperson. We are accustomed of having one of the most trust
worthy Councilpersons in the city and to replace him with Carol
Campbell who has been convicted of two criminal offences (sic) does
not make sense....
>
> We are even more shocked that Michael Nutter, Ward Leader of the 52nd Ward would vote for her, leaving his voting base with a councilperson who has a history of actions which are questionable and illegal... many voters from the 4th Council District will not FORGET or FORGIVE him for voting for Carol Campbell to take over this seat....Congressman Robert Brady is selling out this part of Philadelphia to expand his voting base, if and when he decides to run for Mayor. This will be a major mistake and will alienate loyal Democrats from North West Philadelphia..."

I heard this from a lot of people.

I think Michael Nutter got a lot of it as well, especially the day that Signe Wilkinson's cartoon ran.
http://www.philly.com/mld/dailynews/news/opinion/15549214.htm

So – down to the wire – a week before the vote - here was his choice.
1.      Back Carol Campbell against the panicked wishes of many of his
constituents – stand up for what is right – to stand up against
corruption and arrogance and entitlement and everything that we
despise about the machine – the stealing, the dirty elections, the
contempt for the people of Philadelphia, the taking of money that
could be used to help kids and families for one's own personal
enrichment.
Or
2.      Vote against her, and lose the support of Carol Campbell – the one
person that he had to have to win the mayor's race. (a lot of people
feel)

And he stood up against the machine at the moment that he needed it most.
Somewhat quixotic, totally beautiful, and the only thing that one's conscience would allow him to do.

This sent shock waves through Philly. He is now the first truly viable independent mayoral candidate I think Philly has even seen. They've closed ranks now. He's got a battle on his hands now, folks.

A lot of people said, you know, Michael really just threw himself under the wheels for nothing.

But it wasn't for nothing.
Michael Nutter just taught us the meaning of constituent services.