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Sam Katz is now an independent
Submitted by zorro on Tue, 04/24/2007 - 12:07pm.
In case you missed it, Sam Katz has officially changed his party registration from Republican to independent. This raises the possibility that he could run this fall as a 3rd party candidate.
Depending on the results of the Democratic primary, this could well be the most realistic chance that a non-Dem has had to win the Mayor's office since 1948 (when fellow CHA alum Joe Clark ended the GOP machine's rule). If a Dem w/enough negatives wins the primary, + Taubenberger continues to yield a deafeningly silent response, Katz could well pick up enough Democratic, Republican, + independent votes to become our next mayor.
Full disclosure: while I wouldn't consider Sam Katz a friend, he and I are both members of the same synagogue, and I do run into him on a somewhat regular basis.
Just coffee talk- I gave you a topic, now discuss,
-Z
azion: I believe Clark ended the GOP machine's rule in 1951
The 1947 election was won by Barney Samuel, the last of the Republican machine mayors.
Mayor's race btwn. two former republican white businessmen?!?!
I'm thinking that Katz would only get into the race if Knox wins the primary- which we all know at this point is highly likly. Think about how crazy it is that Philly could have a mayoral race between two former republican white businessmen.
I think that Katz could easily beat Knox. He is way more qualified for the job, he has alot of hardcore supporters from the last two elections, and last, but not least, the dems could not play the race card against him this time.
Which is precisely why I don't think he will run if Fattah wins- he seemed really worn out by what happened 7 years ago. I think it would be similarly (emotionally) difficult for him to run against Brady.
As far as if any of the other guys win- I have no opinion. But can you imagine that if it's Knox vs. Katz- this race will be fundamentally like no other Philly has seen before.
(p.s. I support Nutter)
Interesting view. I didn't
Interesting view. I didn't think about that until you mentioned it.
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Staff member of Longacre for 5th Council District.
Longacre Website
Pray tell, Liz...
what does the "race card" mean to you?
Also,
What do you think city committee would do in a Knox V. Katz race. It seems that Brady has it out for Knox with a vengence, is it possible for them to stay out of a race? Would they go with a former republican? Who would make more deals with city committee? My guess is Knox would try.
I'll field that one
Brady has already said that he'd swallow hard and support whoever ends up as the Democratic nominee. Katz running would be the best possible thing for Brady and the old guard because Knox might depend on the party to help him beat Katz. In that case, you gotta think that he'll be somewhat indebted to Brady and the party.
That's one scenario. The other is that Knox just overwhelms Katz with his own ad buys and doesn't need the party's help. Katz was the master of getting the $100,000 check and without those, it'll be tough for him to mount any kind of air war.
Either way, as the nominal Democrat, Brady and the party give him at least nominal support.
Paging Charles Bowser
If there were REALLY an Independent Sam Katz as the THIRD White one-time Republican businessman in the race for mayor of a city where--correct me if I'm wrong--the majority of voters are neither White, nor Republican, nor, um, businessmen, well...my guess is that the question will not be: WHO will be the African-American Independent in the race?
The question, I'd guess, is: HOW MANY African-American Independents will there be?
Proudly supporting the BEAUTIFUL Philly For Change Council Slate and MICHAEL NUTTER for Mayor
None that matter, b/c
None that matter, b/c without party support, democratic label or independent wealth, they would be crushed by Knox's campaign.
Bowser's race was also a function of the Democratic Party largely excluding African American politicians. It is a legacy that the party doesn't have now, but still has to explain. Support for Marty Weinberg by some resurrected that.
There are not many good candidates who have not declared. I'd be willing to be Nutter considered a run as an independent and realized he couldn't win. Cody Anderson or Kenny Gamble are the folks who come to ine.
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I do not work for/support any candidate for any office in Philadelphia.